A TRIO of Athletes from Dartford & White Oak Triathlon club recently completed La Marmotte - a classic cyclo sportive event based in the French Alps.

Paul Atkinson, Gel Utting and Kevin Perkins took on the 174km cyclo sportive, which starts in Bourg d’Oisans.

It climbs the Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier before returning to Bourg d’Oisans and finishes up the 21 hairpin bend climb to the ski station of L’Alpe d’Huez.

Approximately 7,000 riders from all over the world take on this awesome annual challenge, setting off in groups from 7am in the morning from Bourg d’Oisans.

Perkins said “If there was ever a biking equivalent of an Ironman, then this was it. “Despite being battered and bruised from our encounter, we were relieved and proud to have finished.”

After more than 11 and a half hours of cycling, the crossed the finishing line.

Not to be outdone, Perkins’ partner Karen Xander took on La Mini Marmotte, a not so small 50-mile ride with more than 2,300m of climbing.

She too successfully managed the ride, despite a horrendous accident three years ago which saw her in a leg brace for eight months and which still requires her to use a crutch support for walking today.