Lord Provost sets the troops on their way

Edinburgh’s Lord Provost helped 20 soldiers set off on the country’s first ever ‘Tour de Troops’.

The group of British Army bomb disposal experts were waved off from Craigiehall yesterday morning   on a 1,500-mile cycling challenge.

Switching blast suits for Lycra, the cyclists expect to average 100 miles a day for 15 days, taking in towns and cities across the UK and France before ending their journey in Bielefeld, Germany.

Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, Frank Ross, said: “Day in and day out, these men and women risk their own lives as bomb disposal experts, working in highly dangerous circumstances to keep the rest of us safe. This is their down time, yet they have chosen to spend it raising thousands to help others.

“Each and every one of these cyclists is an inspiration. It has been an honour to set them on their way and I wish the team the very best of luck in the first ‘Tour de Troops’.”

All money raised will go towards the Felix Fund, which supports those affected by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). The ‘Tour de Troops’ will stop to visit every security-cleared EOD regiment they pass on their way.

Show your support online @FelixFund or donate here to the Felix Fund.