A FORMER St Helens school pupil who is now an army doctor cycled 390km to help assist with preparations for the start of the Tour de France in Yorkshire.

Second Lieutenant Elizabeth Harris, who studied at De La Salle, in Eccleston, was part of 70-strong armed forces peloton which pedalled the two-day route from the historic house of Harewood on the outskirts of Leeds to the centre of Sheffield.

Known as ‘Exercise Yellow Jersey’, the ride was one of a series of test exercises run in preparation ahead of ‘Le Grand Depart’.

The first day saw Elizabeth, 26, cycle the 118 miles through Skipton and the Yorkshire Dales past Aysgarth Falls and climbing the famous Buttertubs – an iconic 250m high ascent.

The next day saw the cyclists leave York across Ilkley Moor and up the cobbled street of Haworth continuing into Huddersfield and ascend the climb to Holme Moss. They completed the day’s 125 mile ride in Sheffield.

“I’m a member of the Army Union Cycling Club and they send me a training programme. I normally cycle around 200 miles a week,” added Elizabeth.