It’s a tough day out there. The race leaders have been struggling with the wind and stability and have now landed. Frustrating for them – but the afternoon usually brings better conditions, so they are sure to fly again. Athletes often choose to land mid-flight if there is a danger they might sink down into the valley. This can happen if cloud cover comes in for example, shutting down thermal development. They will land, wait for the conditions to improve, and then launch again.