Sophie's cycle, day four

The Countess of Wessex, with green sleeves, during day four of her Diamond Challenge bike ride for the Duke of Edinburgh Award

(photo Royal Family Twitter)

It's all getting rather familiar and worryingly cake free now. The Countess of Wessex has passed the half way mark on her Diamond Challenge cycle ride from Scotland to England by pedalling through the famously flat county of Lincolnshire and appearing not to so much as even glance at a biscuit in the process. This is getting serious.

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Sophie began day four of her 436 mile challenge in York where day three, the most relaxing of the rides so far, had ended.  We've quickly got used to the sight of the Countess of Wessex in her cycling gear and blue jacket talking to school pupils who have come to give her a rousing send off and today was no different as young people involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme waved their flags and chatted with the royal cycle star.

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Then it was back to the serious business of pedalling for victory. The challenge which began outside Holyrood Palace on Monday and which will finish at Buckingham Palace on Sunday was about speed and flat terrain today as Sophie powered her way towards London, Day five beckons, keep everything crossed for cake.
You can catch up with all of the Countess of Wessex's cycle ride on the special page here and read about the Duke of Edinburgh Diamond Challenge here.