Started a monsoon whilst we were having lunch. Everyone gathered under the trees, huddled like penguins trying to escape the worst of it, but without success. We all got absolutely soaked, and cold.
Setting off, most of us found out cycling shoes had collected a load of mud so wouldn't click into pedals, or worse, clocked in but then not out when that first stop came and a foot on the ground required.....
Next 20 miles through more beautiful scenery and lovely little villages, but still largely raining.
The rain did eventually stop but by then most of the country roads we were on were covered in mud and puddles. Hot to the last water-stop of the day soaking wet and looking definitely like I'd been through the Somme - bike and rider...