THE body stood up to the rigours of duathlon duty for Roy Flanagan who returned from the ITU World Championships with a bronze medal.

Competing in the 60-64 year category, Flanagan rode and cycled his way to a podium place in Denmark and was thankful his hamstrings and calves survived 15kms on the road and 40kms in the saddle.

“There is still life in the old legs yet,” said the 61-year-old from Rossendale. “I only run as far as my body allows me these days but thankfully, over in Denmark, it didn’t pack in on me.”

The retired electrical engineer travelled to Fyn, Odense to take part in his second World Championship looking to better his previous best finish of fifth place.

And despite picking up an injury three weeks before the event, Flanagan clocked a combined time of 1hr 58mins 04secs to earn his bronze.

In a field of 26 runners, Flanagan, who is a member of Rossendale Road Club and Rossendale Harriers, had to run 10km, ride 40km then run a final leg of 5km.

He was fourth quickest after the first run, clocking 35mins 52secs, and then completed the bike ride in 57mins 25secs - meaning there were just two seconds separating Flanagan and Denmark’s Ole Louman in the battle for third place.

But Flanagan showed he had enough left in the tank in the final run, clocking 20mins 30secs - the second fastest final leg of the day.

“I was happy with the way I finished,” said Flanagan who has been national champion for the last two years. “Especially as I picked up an injury just three weeks before I flew out there.

“I wasn’t as fit as I would have liked but I was delighted that my hamstrings and calves were fine and I managed to win a medal.”

France’s Jacky Buron won the gold medal in a time of 1hr 54mins 5secs with Canada’s Paul Huyer in silver medal position just less than two minutes behind - and two minutes head of Flanagan.

Flanagan won the national title at Clumber Park, Mansfield earlier this year, successfully defending the title he won at Oulton Park, Cheshire in 2017.

At the National finals in May, Flanagan finished nearly a minute and a half ahead of his nearest rival - completing the first run in 41mins 16secs, finishing the ride in 1hr 3mins 19secs and the final run in 21mins 01 secs for a combined time of 2hrs 8mins 24secs.

But despite also winning a European bronze medal, Flanagan classes himself as an ‘ex-runner’ and spends more of his time in the saddle.

“I used to run and compete a lot for the Harriers but those days are gone now,” he said. “In that respect I am an ex runner but I do enjoyed competing in the duathlons and it is nice to be doing so well.”