It’s begun. After a year of preparations, sweat and buggeration 43 riders have made it to the Mongol Derby start line. That alone is no mean feat. This is the moment when we find out how well prepared the riders are as we weigh them in to meet our 85kg dressed to ride rule.

In previous years we had riders almost naked on the scales which means they use up their 5kg kit allowance to get their clothes, helmet and boots back on. Sadly this year all the riders came in under 85 KG fully dressed.

Then the briefings begin before setting off to the Steppe.