If we could turn up to an event for a ‘bit of fun’ and walk away with a Gold medal I think most of us would be pretty pleased.

With so many road miles in his leg’s that’s exactly what David Millar managed at this year’s National Track Championships – he turned up for some fun and took the open 4000m pursuit title from defender Paul Manning.

We grabbed a few minutes with David to ask him how things have been going on the road this year and just how he churns out these superb efforts on the track.

How do you alter your approach to the track events in comparison to the endurance on the road, how different is the preparation?

Well this is just a bit of fun for me, I mean I have nothing to lose and just it seems such an opportunity only living half an hour away from here that I just came along for some fun really. So there’s no stress to win it.

How difficult is it for you to do two top pursuit efforts in one day (qualifier and final)?

For me it’s no problem, so I can even throttle myself so hard in the first step of it. I mean that’s the difference I guess between the track and the road. The track is really hard but because of the road I have such incredible fitness and stuff I could back these up all day, I don’t know if I can always go as fast as the others, but I can do them over and over again.

In terms of eating and refuelling in between are you looking to really refuel before this evening? (The Pursuit final)

Not really, I will have a recovery shake now and a bit of snack this afternoon and that’s about it really, yeah.

“The track is really hard but because of the road I have such incredible fitness – I could back these up all day”

So whereabouts are you in your season at the moment?

Finishing, I’ve got one more race.

And how have things been going on the road?

Yes good, it’s going really well. I’ve been getting better and better because obviously coming back from two years of no racing it’s taken a couple of months but I think in about a week I will be excellent just as the season ends, typically! So no, no I’m really happy it’s been progressive, getting better so it’s all good.

What are your goals for next year, do you tend to peak once or twice?

I want to have a few peaks next year, I want to be good all year, from California in the beginning, throughout. I already know my program if you like, it’s the Tour of California and Georgia, Paris-Nice, Milan-San Remo. So I am aiming for Paris-nice, and then Tour de France, the Prologue in London and some stages and Tour of Spain stages then the World Championships so it will be like three peaks in the season if you like, beginning, middle and an end.

“It’s going really well I’ve been getting better and better because obviously coming back from two years of no racing it’s taken a couple of months but I think in about a week I will be excellent just as the season ends, typically!”

And how important is a team when you are riding an endurance race?

Ah it’s everything, you can’t do it without a team, basically.

And is that quite a big thing to get around when you are here at the track working for yourself?

Cause I’m doing pursuit? Yeah, but I’m not really, I mean you guys here, you have such a good track culture. Just so much expertise. It makes it really easy to come in and do a bit, you know you’re getting the best in the world now, along with the Australians so…

Is there a lot of cross over with the teams, like the road and the track teams on a social level?

No not really, no, I don’t really know them.

Are you stuck into your different programmes?

Well I mean I’m in a different world. I live in Europe and I race over there and a lot of my friends, my friends did track when we were younger and Rob Hayles is on this team and he’s a close friend of mine, so you know it just depends on who your friends are.

What about your nutrition do you keep an eye on it all year round?

“I am aiming for Paris-Nice, and then Tour de France, the Prologue in London and some stages and Tour of Spain stages then the World Championships”

Yeah, that’s just improved with being an athlete, naturally.

And do you monitor what goes in vs. what comes out? Or is it by feel?

No, you have schedules to follow once a year and it depends on what your objective is.

And how much input do you have in that, or is it managed from a management level?

No, I look after my body you know, I have to get the results. I have to get them, if I don’t get them it’s my problem and I’m out of a team.

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David was riding well at this event, and his form is looking good. Despite two years out he put in a respectable performance at the Tour de France, and with his planned objectives, he stands a good chance of doing us all proud. Go Millar!