Firstly, working with a plan and #TeamTCUK coach, James Pryke, over the winter months ensured that I actually got the hard base miles in.

Riding and running in the snow and rain isn’t particularly enticing but the structure and accountability of talking to James each week made me do it.

Secondly, a really consistent steady base phase helped me to avoid injuries, over the seven months I had one shoulder niggle that was sorted by a massage and an update to my strength training program