LOSTOCK AC's Sally McCoy has followed in the bike tracks of Geraint Thomas and the Tour de France by conquering the legendary cycle climb at this year's Alp D'Huez Triathlon.

The 21 switch-back corners and 1,300 metres of ascent that constitute the iconic cycling climb is the centrepiece of the multi-sport festival where McCoy, competing in the short-course race, put in a very powerful performance to finish 12th woman overall and fourth in her age group.

Despite being held in southern France in the height of a hot summer, the 1.2k swim in the Lac du Veirey is always notoriously cold, which is immediately followed by the bike leg and finished with a 7.3k run held at an altitude of 2,000m.

McCoy completed the swim in 28mins 35secs, the bike leg in 1:57:23 and the run in 43:29 for an overall time of 3:14:50.  

Cathy Stratton had an equally successful race at the Allerthorpe standard distance triathlon in the Vale of York with an overall time of 2:47:51, comprising a 1.5k swim time of 33:09, a 40k bike split of 1:12:05 and a 57:02 10k run, to finish as 14th woman overall. 

Closer to home, Paul O'Brien had his first return to competitive running since Easter with a 22:09 at Haigh Hall parkrun.

Also at Haigh Hall, Andy Laycock turned in a time of 23:19, while David Wilcock finished in 27:59, Karen Taylor in 30:55 and Alison Wilcock in 37:34.

Jocelyn Chadderton completed Bolton parkrun in 27:56.