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CTT: Which are your top three favourite courses?
MB: Personally I always loved the more technical circuits. I’d go for the Buxton mountain time trial, the Coalville wheelers 25, and the Welsh 25 course for dual carriageway events.
CTT: But which is your favourite?
MB: By far when I was really fit the Buxton hilly was always my favourite and I managed to win it six times. I should have broken the course record in 2011 but I punctured on the first lap. I lost three minutes, I managed to get a spare wheel and still ended up winning. That really stands out as one of my best performances.
CTT: Why do you like it?
MB: The strength you needed and the pacing required, as well as the terrain. I loved climbing the hills.
CTT: Do you prefer short or long distances, and why?
MB: Fifty miles was always my favourite. I just liked the control I had over my position and the way I could pace it over that distance. I could never really do any longer than that. I won the National 100-Mile Championships once and that was enough! Trying to win the National 10 was always the hardest for me as my power profile wasn’t made for it so I really had to suffer to finally win that one.
CTT: What makes a good TT course?
MB: For me I like a undulating course, and good road surfaces also help.
CTT: Does travelling longer distances to get the courses affect your performance?
MB: It never really effected mine. I would just always make sure I travelled with somebody to break the journey up. Also I would make sure I left plenty of time, drank and ate well through the day. If it was a key race like the nationals I would always stay over the evening before. I always made sure I ate the same food as I would at home. Some athletes also take their own pillow, but that was something that I never needed.
CTT: How much of an advantage is having a local course, where you know the roads?
MB: It’s a massive advantage, I think you just know the course inside out. The wind direction, where all the potholes are, the key parts to push and ease back. Knowing the course is always key if you want to perform at your best. I would always go and preview any of the course I wanted to do well at.