Laura Trott says she is more worried about Sunday's Prudential RideLondon 100-mile, mass-participation ride than she is about defending her title in tomorrow's Women's Grand Prix.
Trott, the event's ambassador, took victory on The Mall 12 months ago ahead of Hannah Barnes.
But with her Wiggle-Honda team sending recognised sprinter Giorgia Bronzini to the race to face off against Marianne Vos and Lizzie Armitstead, the double Olympic champion says riding the sportive with family members is a more daunting prospect.
“I've never done 100 (160km) miles in one go before; the most I've done in one day 140km,” she explained.
“My dad and my uncle are doing it with me, as I don't get to ride with them very much anymore. I did a two-up 10-mile with my dad the other day, and he was rubbish! So I'm hoping that over 100 miles I've much better than him!
“I hope he doesn't attack me on the climbs - I think my uncle will, though! My dad wants to do it in five hours, but if it's raining that won't happen!”
Trott won this year's National Road Race Championships in Abergavenny
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
Trott will wear her British Road Race Champion's jersey in the 100, the first opportunity she has had to show it off.
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But as much of a surprise it was for her to take that title in June, she doesn't expect to win again on The Mall in tomorrow evening's Grand Prix, which will be shown live on BBC Two and Eurosport.
Trott added: “It's a bit different for us [Wiggle-Honda] this time as we've brought Giorgia over this year. I won't have to be sprinter this year, which is nice as Marianne is riding!
“Everybody has brought strong teams this year. It's good that we can showcase women's cycling once again.”
Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.
