Okay, if you guys have a media pass and aren't stuck with the 4 spectator spots then hopefully this works... I'll try to go in order around the course...
Access would be a bit of a pain and you'd possibly actually have hike in from spectator 1 but go about another 1/2-1 mile or so past spectator 1 towards the gravel pits and it's HUGE waist to chest deep type rollers/whoops in there mixed with square edged old broken asphaut! It's flat out BRUTAL in our truck! I've always wondered how fast and gnarly the TT's run that section! If you can get in there it wouldn't be a disappointment and honestly is probably one of the best spots you could find!
The section up at like mile 12 right after they cross the road and head up into that canyon. It's going to be a slower section but is technical and rough! It's really rocky with some decent ledges. Not sure how it would be to spectate/photo from but might result in some cool stuff for sure.
From past that canyon to mile 25ish there's some good whoops and stuff up there but access in and out of there on race day will be a major pain. Actually now that I think about it, access to that mile 12 spot might end up getting you stuck there all day and I'd probably want to move around a bit as that's not really a good "all day" type spot.
The spot in the 2nd picture above has NEVER been a disappointment! No matter how virgin or beat up the courses have been it's always been a great whoops section over the years and the TT's will be running 100mph+, especially since they'll be going down hill opposite of what's in the 2nd picture above. If you have the generic line drawn map from BITD it's basically the almost vertical section of trail at roughly course mile 27.
Assuming this link below works, compare the two maps, you'll see they come thru the canyon heading east to west and then turn south wrapping around the base of that mountain. Zoom in and you can visually see the whoops!
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=las+...91504&t=h&hnear=Las+Vegas,+Clark,+Nevada&z=18
Miles 30-35 might be rough but access in and out probably wouldn't make it worth it.
45-52ish is similar, rough but probably not worth it.
miles 60-70 will be absolutely a blast and awesome in the race vehicles!!!! Super scenic! Fast flowing lots of bermed high speed turns, tight canyons, etc... Nothing really exciting though spectator wise other then some cool berm shots.
The couple longer straight sections from about 72-77ish will be absolutely WIDE open with a couple BIG jumps out there. It's mostly flat, in our truck we were able to pin it pretty much wide open only checking up for a couple big jumps to be safe. The TT guys probably won't lift and should fly off a few spots. Finding them though would take some recon efforts for sure.
From about mile 85 till they make that hard right at the rail road tracks. It's SOFT and was about knee deep whoops. Would probably make for some great flying dirt shots combo'd with whoops.
90-95 isn't much for spectating but a blast in the vehicles, all really fast, flowing, smooth.
95-start/finish is good pretty much anywhere!
So... With that said, if I had media pass with access to the course I would personally plan my day to focus on the area just past spectator 1, park as far in as they'll let you and then hike in probably 5-10 minutes at most past where they limit the spectators. Basically... See how they have it kind of cleared out and then the clearing just abruptly stops, hike out a 1/2 mile or so past that and you won't be disappointed!
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=las+...91504&t=h&hnear=Las+Vegas,+Clark,+Nevada&z=16
I'd maybe catch them there off the start. From there time wise it would be a toss up, you're probably not going to beat them to mile 27 but for sure can beat them to the mile 95-start/finish. Catch them there for a bit and then head over and find a spot along the fence line around mile 27.
That would be my game plan personally. There's other good spots but you might end up trapped in them once the race starts and I like to be able to move if the spot ends up being a bust.
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