See, this is what I mean... she helped you more in Stage 1... by Stage 4 there were 4 of you (including you and guardian angel) who could help each other and probably achieve a better time than if you had all been doing stage 4 on your own.

This is why I like cycling - its such an individual thing - and yet such a team thing too - and your team can be strangers to each other for only one day and yet you can get it together and know how each other feels.

I don't think there are too many situations in todays world where complete strangers can work so effectively together to acieve a common goal so quickly!