Sophie's cycle ride, day five

The Countess of Wessex sets off on day five of her Diamond Challenge bike ride

(photo The Royal Family Twitter)

Day five of the Countess of Wessex's bike ride from Edinburgh to London was all rather sedate and low key. Sophie ate up the miles, ate no cake on camera (it's time to let that dream go) and got to her overnight stop in time to watch Strictly. The woman is a marvel.

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The bike ride, which started outside Holyrood Palace on Monday and which will come to an end outside Buckingham Palace on Sunday, has had some pretty tough moments including day two which was filled with hills. Day five was all about the rather lower landscape of Lincolnshire with Sophie covering fifty miles and staying well on target to complete her 436 tour in seven days.

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We've got used to seeing her waved off by school pupils offering their support as she cycles to help the Duke of Edinburgh Award and day five was all about young people from Giles Academy who came along to share stories of their experience on the award scheme before Sophie attacked the next stage of her Diamond Challenge. Five down, two to go as Sophie's cycle ride continues.
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.