While in the previous races some where a little loose with observance to straightening the knee around the turns, the lead pack maintained perfect adherence to the definition of race walking.

DUNFEE trying to stay cool.

Dominik ČERNÝ rounding the turn.

Once through the turn it was directly into the strong West Coast sun. Temperatures might have been deceptively low, but headfirst into the sun was not a pleasant 500 meter journey.

And then if you blinked you missed it, 20.5km in, MATSUNAGA was swallowed. It was very odd. As the pack approached, he just raised his hand seemingly acknowledging that "ha, ha, you got me." There was no real struggle or attempt to maintain the lead whatsoever.

Now, the pack of 8 were ready to race with less than 15km to go.

NODA and DUNFEE will a few seconds off the rear of the pack were still in the hunt, only 13 seconds from the point position.

DUNFEE looked determined to make a go of it.

Jhonatan Javier AMORES CARUA was feeling the oppression of the extra kms.

Yangben ZHAXI coming by just under 22 kms.

Andrés CHOCHO

The pack was no longer a unified formation as people started to jockey for position and break away.

MATSUNAGA didn't even attemp to stay with the pack.

DUNFEE kept his patience.

CHRISTIE came through 20km at 1:29:06, just seconds off his 20km performance. This could be a break out day.

The lead pack was ripping at around 4:05 a lap and it looked like they could get faster. Clearly, blasting out at the start did not prove wise.

MATSUNAGA was put a fork in it done.

CHRISTIE was starting to show signs of fatigue.

But fought hard. Every lap on pace was that much closer to a new USA 35km record.

True to 50km strategy, the race pace continued to accelerate, now at 4:02.