Picture this:
You're in a string of 30 cars bumper-to-bumper at 40mph down a twisty descent.
Mixed in with that string of cars is a handful of pro cyclists chasing to rejoin the peleton.
On one side of the road, rocks.
On the other side, the Pacific Ocean.
Effectively, no guard rail.

Then, a Discovery rider calls for service (flat tire, etc). Johann screams past you in the left lane to get to the back of the peleton to help his rider.

The road is entirely closed to local traffic, so the caravan uses the right lane for normal travel, and the left lane for service travel.
If a rider wants to drop back to their team car, that's fine. But if it's something like a flat tire, the team car is called up from behind.
This creates a two-abreast situation.
And if you have riders coming back up to the group, you have them threading the needle.

All of this at Race Pace.

CHP is concerned.

Other Notes of Random Interest:
4. Lt. Cody of the Georgia State Patrol is on hand to lend his expertise. He is "Race Command" this week. Super nice guy, him.

5. 3500 volunteers in the Local Organizing Committees. Imagine that the next time you have a hard time finding people to help you with YOUR local crit.

6. Alex Steida is driving one of the VIP cars in front of the field. If you see him, wave. He's the first North American to wear the maillot jeune.

7. Nelson Vails (silver medal 1984 Olympics) is driving Comm 3 or 4 (depending on which day.
To help you identify him, he's the only african-american driver in the caravan.

8. Arnold is reported to be scheduled to award the first Amgen Leader's Jersey tomorrow.