Well, I missed Matth. We spend too long waiting for the reluctant riders to come out of their buses before wandering up to the start, where I think the motorbikes may have been gathered. I did look at all the NEG riders who went past to see if any of them looked like the version of Matth I remember + 10 years, but no joy.
We saw a few of the team introductions, and the depart; then sat on some straw bales in front of the big screen (picturesquely placed with a view of Margam Castle behind, rather than the other way round, with Port Talbot steelworks as the backdrop) watching the race until the break was established. Within a minute of setting off for home (in a car) the heavens emptied, so I'm glad, restrospectively, that the break didn't take too long to get away.
From what I saw the enforced re-routing because of the traffic incident was pretty well handled. It can't have been easy for the organizers. There are not a great deal of alternatives available in the Rhondda valleys. I'd be interested in Matth's behind-the-scenes views.
Too late to be of any use yoav, but there were no merch stands at all at today's start.
