IMO, a 6 am start would have got him out into the countryside before the morning traffic started.
Also in my opinion, 10 am traffic is worse than 6 am traffic.
When I rode midweek 200 DIYs, I got my start proof at an ATM at 06:00.
When I rode 300 Midmesh, I got my start proof at he same ATM at 05:00.