Moreover, being closer to the front means that the rider can react to attacks and changes in position with less effort.

People treat you differently, though I was glad to see the other riders reacted well.

As Mykel had planned, the front of the column slowed, then stopped, while the later riders failed to hear the orders - or did not react as quickly.

The race was crippled last year, and almost ended prematurely, when riders reacted to police drug raids by staging two strikes.

Other riders said a more experienced horseman might have braced himself better or reacted more swiftly when his mount balked at a three-foot-high jump.

Before his riders could react, he was surrounded and dragged from his horse.

At the bottom of the final climb Cadel Evans (Australia) attacked, but no other riders reacted.

When the first blast occurred, some riders bolted for the exits and others reacted calmly.