This is the biggest day on the bike with 100km on the menu. Day 6 out here in Myanmar and the fourth day on the bike. The sad reality is, after this one, there is just the small ride around Mandalay tomorrow then its all over. Where has that time gone!

Before all of that, we have 100km to ride on yet another hot and sunny day. The heat took it out of some people yesterday and today looks like it will be even hotter.

Unlike MYANMAR CYCLE TOUR – DAY 5: POPA – MYINGYAN it wasn’t a shame leaving the hotel. Breakfast wasn’t great, I had Rice, Noodles and a fried egg. A strange morning combo but at least it will give me some energy to get through to lunch.

My plan for this morning was to take it easy and ride towards the back of the group for a bit and then do like yesterday and push through a bit later on.

It sounds like an easy thing riding slower than the pace you are used to but it’s the opposite, it is hard work keeping a lower cadence and power output. Easier on the heart rate I guess.

The first 5 miles through town we did as a group lead out by the guide. The traffic was really busy, even Myanmar gets the morning rush hour.

Once out of town it was one straight road to the first feed station at 30km and then straight on to lunch at 60km.

I spent for first 30km riding in a peloton with Sarah, Luke, Sean & Mark. Each taking turns at the front and going along at a good pace chatting and having fun. It was a great social morning on the bike in the sun.

The view at the feed station was beautiful, I keep saying that but this country really is that stunning. True unspoilt natural beauty all around you as you cycle and the people are the most friendliest and genuine people you will ever meet.

They are happy and excited to see you, slowing down to wave at us or say hello. I really am glad I decided to come here and see this country before it gets overrun by tourists.

We had a bit of a wait at the feed stop, as we had been riding as a group and pushing on we had got about 45 minutes ahead of the back of the pack.

Another 30km to go to lunch, again we went as a group but this time riding with Laura, Ken, Justine and Daisy as well.

Getting another train going for part of the way before Mark, Luke, Sean and myself broke away at the front before waiting at the water stop for the rest of the bunch.

Laura went off before us all with her now famous “I’m ready stance”, we decided to ride as a group and help Justine & Daisy along to lunch. After a few miles at a slower pace I decided that on the next hill I would put the hammer down and see what gap I can open up.

As soon as I came up with that idea, we were on a good downhill and I could see the road bend to the right and then a good hill on the other side so I went for it then. Flying past the group straight away and pulling away up the hill. Time to have some fun and see whether I could catch Laura.

It took me nearly an hour to catch Laura, she was flying along and looking strong. Then there was a fork in the road, I knew we were going straight on but still wondered should I go left or hang to the right. I went with the latter.

When I had reached 64km I was wondering if I had gone the wrong way, I was 4km past what should be lunch, I had not seen anyone from the group for ages and had only seen Laura in the last 30km, all that was in sight was jungle as well.

Thankfully, at 66km I saw a little building with our bus parked outside.

I got there 30 mins before Laura and an hour before the rest of the group I had dropped on the hill. Another good morning riding with a group and then having some fun pushing the pace on by myself. It was a further hour before the back of the group came in.

Lunch was nice today, sweet & Sour pork and noodles.

The place we had stopped at must be a local rest stop too, lots of cars and buses were pulling in whilst we were there. All really friendly locals and monks who were just as excited to see us as we were to see them.

One really sweet moment from the day and probably the whole trip was watching Daisy playing with some local girls.

It was another 15km on the road after lunch. A 3hr 30min lunch for me, I was well rested and ready to get going again. It was a short ride to a meeting point where we would ride the final 5km together as a group.

The front riders stopped off in a cafe / shack whilst the others came in to join us. A 750ml bottle of coke that would be easily £1.50 here came to 30p in here!

The last 5km was at a more leisurely pace. A nice way to end the day, riding past rice paddy fields with the setting sun on the horizon.

We reached a little pagoda which was the setting for the end of today’s ride. This made a great backdrop for a group photo. The mood was quite celebratory now, we had come to the end of the biggest day of riding and tomorrow was more like the final day of Le Tour, just a procession.

We then had to ride another 5km around the corner to the real finish point for today and watch the sunset over the river. This was a change to the plan which until this year would have had us riding into Mandalay and finishing up on a roundabout just outside of the town.

I think this finish point at the river was a lot better and another great example of how Sam, our challenge leader, is always looking at making little tweaks to improve the ride year on year.

The sunset over the river was gorgeous!!

After that we took the 30min bus trip to the hotel where we would spend the next two nights. Finally a chance to organise the bag a little and not have to worry about packing everything up the next day.

We had dinner at a local restaurant, the food was really nice with a soup which left me sweating more than at any point on the bike ride.

That was day 4 on the bike done with 59.43 miles and 1,450ft of climbing.

Tomorrow we have a later 8:30am start to go and see a wooden bridge and then have a short easy ride around town to see some of the sights, a little like MYANMAR CYCLE TOUR – DAY 3: YANGON – BAGAN I am thinking of getting up at the same time and going for a run.