Regarding descents. Chapeau to those who do them quickly.
My cycling style, such as it was, could best be described as pootling along.
I did reach a fair rate of knots once when descending from the Hartside cafe on the C2C route. I was so excited I even spread my feet out in front of the front wheel and went Wheeeeeeee.....
As to today's stage, unfortunately I have not been able to see any of it, so can only imagine the unusual start arrangements and what followed.