Today’s stage was the shortest of the event so far at only 124km, starting at the Tsenkher Hot Springs and finishing at the Orkhon waterfall. While short in length, it may have had the most spectacular scenery so far on the rally. The route took the riders through the heart of central Mongolia and the Arkhangai province with its crystal-clear rivers and pockets of forests and pure wilderness, finishing at the Orkhon waterfall. We passed many nomad families camped along the river valleys, living a life hardly changed from the days of Genghis Khan. We were also lucky enough to have the Rally coincide with the district’s Naadam Festival. Local rural people had travelled from all around to compete or spectate in wrestling, archery and horse racing. This was a unique experience for the riders, allowing them to embed themselves into rural Mongolian life and meet the people, experiencing an event that not many other foreigners get to see.
