Oxford's Emma-Kate Lidbury had to be content with an eigth-placed finish at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas.

Lidbury came home strongly, but saw her hopes of a podium finished scuppered by a four-minute penalty on the bike section.

The 31-year-old professional had moved up into third position midway through the 56-mile section when disaster struck.

She said: “I had a great race, but it proved extremely eventful.

“I had a strong swim, leaving the water in fifth, but I was up to third after transition one.

“I remained in third until midway through the bike ride when I was given a four-minute penalty.

“I’d not allowed the full ten metres when overtaking, and so I was given a drafting penalty.

“This meant I was standing on the roadside for four minutes and could only watch as about a dozen girls rode by.

“It was very frustrating to say the least!

“I had been riding with some of the major contenders and was very excited about how the race was unfolding as I was feeling incredibly strong.”

Lidbury crossed line in 4hrs 36mins 14secs, having clocked 26.29 for her 1.2-mile swim, 2.38.57 for the bike and 1.27.01 in her 13.1-mile run.

She added: “I got back on my bike and rode it like a girl possessed to try to make up some time.

“I reached transition two in 15th position and was determined to run myself back into the top ten.

“The run course was far from easy, but I clocked a 1.27.01 – and one of the fastest run splits – to finish eighth pro woman.

“My time minus the four minutes would have seen me inside the top five.”