Starting in the USA five years ago, Spartan Race has almost one million participants at 130 events in 20 countries and is coming to Manchester’s Heaton Park on the first weekend of July.

Last year Olympic silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead cut a frustrated figure when a tactical stalemate saw her miss out on a rainbow jersey at the World Championships – and she’s determined not to see history repeat itself this summer.

Although she’s only lived in Manchester for less than two weeks, four-time Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds has said she’s settling in well ahead of what could be the biggest 18 months of her career.

The Olympic heptathlon champion had not competed since the Anniversary Games in 2013, having taken time out to give birth to her now ten-month-old son Reggie.

Dame Sarah Storey, 11-times a paralympic gold medallist in cycling and swimming, is hopeful that a thrilling debut for women’s cycling at the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire will lead to even more integration with men’s tours and road races.

Greg Rutherford will be looking to underline his status as the world’s number one long-jumper ahead of the World Championships in Beijing this August, after a successful 2014 saw him add Commonwealth and European Championship gold to his London 2012 victory.

Tom Daley is back diving in his comfort zone and charting exactly the right progress towards Rio next summer, according to Olympic silver medallist Leon Taylor.

Richard Hill, from Saddleworth, recently left the RAF after serving half a year in Afghanistan and is aiming to secure a deal at one of the 10 teams competing in the televised competition during the upcoming season.

Britain’s placing in the final medal table, with just three medals, will not be offering head coach Shane Sutton much cause for optimism.

The Duchess of Cambridge – Royal Patron of the 1851 Trust, which works with under-25s to inspire them to take to the sea – visited the South Coast on Thursday see the progress being made on the Ben Ainslie Racing base, due for completion in May ahead of crucial qualifiers.

Danny Mills is hurriedly preparing himself for this year’s BUCS Nationals, the UK’s largest annual multi-sport event which takes place in Sheffield between February 20-22.