With summer on the horizon, the criterium season is getting into full swing with circuit races pulling riders in for an hour of hard, fast action.

The Pearl Izumi Tour Series returns for the seventh year today (Thursday May 14), with the accompanying women’s Matrix Fitness GP Series also taking place once again.

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And it’s not just professional riders in action, with open events attracting sell-out fields across the country from elite level down to fourth category riders news to racing.

If you have an event near you and fancy a slice of the action, chances are you will want a few pointers on how to seal bragging rights before the next club run, so we caught up with British national circuit race champion Eileen Roe, who also won last year’s GP Series, to get her expert advice.

Roe, now at Wiggle-Honda after joining from Starley Primal, not only shone on the British stage last season but enjoyed podium success on the Continent and also raced for her new team at the early-season Bay Criterium Series in Australia.

So how exactly do you become a crit champion? Read on for Roe’s top tips and pointers on how to prepare for and race a criterium.