In their own words the riders said, “when the going gets tough, the tough pedal even harder!”
Pictured: The riders en route to Amsterdam
Day five has taken its toll and tested everyone’s mental and physical strength to the absolute limit.
Riders have experienced blood, sweat and tears as they faced endless hills, a 125miles stretch of road and 26 degree heat all while powering into a strong headwind. It was a brutal day for everyone.
It got off to a tricky start and there was trouble at almost every turn – unexpected diversions, dead ends, no entries, parking tickets and a few riders falling off, although thankfully no one is too badly injured, but some of the bikes could use some TLC.
But the comradely is going strong and spirits are holding up. And so are the appetites! Riders are eating around 6000 calories a day. In Dunkirk the support crew took a walk down The Mole to visit the famous evacuation site and caught some hungry riders in a local restaurant squirrelling away a second dinner. Bon appetit guys!
And rider Mo Ruddy got a welcome surprise from her parents who had secretly flown to Bruges to meet her.
As day six brings a clean slate and a new challenge, it’s flat open roads and sunshine ahead!
Tour de Sez day 5 from Bailiwick Express on Vimeo.
