Strictly Come Dancing’s Victoria Pendleton drops a dress size after training for show

The Olympic cyclist has lost 10lbs since embarking on a new training regime for the competition

Strictly Come Dancing returns to our screens this weekend and along with the fake tan, glitter and sequins we’ll also be introduced to a slimmer Victoria Pendleton, who says she’s dropped an entire dress size while training for the show.

The Olympic cyclist has lost a total of 10lbs since stepping up the intensity of rehearsals ahead of the programme. Most of the weight is lost muscle from her thighs, although, unlike most of us, Victoria isn’t too pleased about slipping down the scales.

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She told MailOnline: ‘I’ve already lost four and a half kilos of muscle. Mainly from my thighs. When I sit down and look at my legs they don’t look like mine any more. I feel a bit sad because I’ve worked for so many years to get that.’

When asked if donning the tasseled frocks and doing the cha-cha has made the gold and silver medalist feel more feminine, her answer was somewhat surprising, she said: ‘No. That’s not me.’

Despite her new, less muscular shape more akin to a dancer’s physique, Victoria isn’t too positive about winning the show.

She added: ‘I have a lifetime of bad habits in dance terms. For example, zero flexibility in the feet. Because as a cyclist, having stiff ankles is an advantage.’

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The sportswoman doesn’t seem too worried about the competition, adding: ‘Dancing is not my thing. I’ve never done it before. So if I fall flat on my face, well, that’s life isn’t it? You just have to laugh and get over it.’

But you never know, Victoria may well be the tortoise in the Strictly race!

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