Epic wind

Wow, today is what call an epic day. 168km which isn't so bad although it's a long day but there were surprises in store for us. I was a bit rushed this morning for the 7:15 start so I'll have to get up around 5:15 this morning. Part of the problem is that people have stuffed their lockers and have trouble getting in and out quickly. Mine has plenty of space and will have more since I brought lots of food. Anyway, away we go and there are five of us that quickly drop everyone. We're motoring at around 40km/hr so we get to lunch at 70km around 9:30 but I am starting to feel my legs hardening. We take a 20 min break and eat and riders start trickling in so we set off once again pretty hard and I know I won't last long since I haven't done long hard rides like this especially back to back. Sure enough, there's a gentle rise at around 80 km and it's bye bye Gilles. I am dreading the fact that I have 90km left to do on my own and the wind has seriously picked up and I am now only going about 20-25km/hr. I struggle until 130km and finally a group catches up. By then I had dropped below 20km/hr. These guys are going fairly slow so it's going ok. We stop for a refill at 140 and set off again. The wind us blowing harder and from the left side so we tuck in on the right and after my turn at the front, I move back and I am stuck behind a small girl and we're right on the edge of the road amnd I get little draft so I'm working hard. We move up a bit so now I have a bit more space but I'm still right on the edge of the pavement. One second of innatention and a gust of wind and my front wheel hits the sand and I get to kiss the pavement. The rider behind flips right on top of me. The judges gave it a 9.5 I believe. No great damage except a few scratches and my pride but I just can't keep up anymore. There's about 20 km left and I am zapped and the wind is now ferocious. I am now riding at 11-13km/hr and struggling mightily. Even the fastest riders didn't maintain 20km/hr in that wind. We're by the Red Sea and it's a flat desert with nothing to stop the wind. I finally crawled in to camp exhausted around 10th place. Loads of rider didn't finish the day today. The late comers are trying to set up their tents in the dark with a howling wind and a thunderstorm is brewing. My stuff is set up and I managed to work a bit on my bike too. Tomorrow I will definitely take it easy. I can' t last 4 months like this... Bide my time until I'm leaner and fitter. I love to ride fast and at the front but right now I'm only good for about 70-90km if there are no big hills.