Day 3 Le Mans to Poitiers completed.

115 miles, avg speed 16mph.  Total so far 345 miles (3 days). 8.15 hrs in the saddle The team stretches at 7.45 were a giggle and we were on the road by 8am. Shirt sleeves were the order of the day but it was chilly and Murli has yet to ride without extra layers! Three layers at one stage today!The first couple of hours whizzed by and a 2×2 peloton worked well for the first 2 hrs – that helped the average speed. As a stark contrast the terrain as we zipped through the Loire Valley was relatively flat. The Loire scenery was spectacular; the huge sunflower fields really add character. 2 hrs in and literally 200m after we were back in the saddle, the heavens opened and we were forced to call the support car, who were still cleaning the carnage from our previous pit stop just 5 mins before, for our wet weather gear. Murli was the slowest to change, so slow in fact that the support van pulled away with Murli still perched on the back changing into leggings!

It rained for a good 2hrs and with the temp at only 15 deg, it wasn’t much fun, but we persevered and our 2×2 peloton continued and the miles sped by. Lunch was taken by the roadside in a beautiful vineyard and luckily the weather was starting to clear. The temp started to rise; today’s max was 25 deg, not hot but 10 deg more than the morning temperature. After lunch we crossed the Loire river and through some tiny, tiny villages and more and more sunflower fields. We finally arrived in Poitiers at 5pm and after a quick photo in front of the Town Hall it was into our normal routine of cleaning bikes, bodies and cycling gear and then onto the bars and eventually a restaurant. Fellow rider Jon, the President of the Autistic charity gave a live UK radio interview whilst we were in the bar!Tomorrow is another 180k as we head towards Bourges (still in France).

Rider of the Day was Dame Shirley … The Diva, Well done from all the riders, especially with a chest infection!!!