Dan Bigham becomes double European champion after individual pursuit title: "I can’t complain. It’s been a good 24 hours"

Dan Bigham confirms his fine form at the European Track Championships in Apeldoorn, winning the individual pursuit just a day after triumph in the team event. Becoming a double European champion alone is a great success for any athlete, let alone for the Ineos Grenadiers mechanic, who does track in his free time.

"I can’t complain. It’s been a good 24 hours. I came into the championships wanting to have two really clean performances, well five throughout the event. I knew that we could win both the team pursuit and the individual pursuit. It was just a case of doing everything right," Bigham told GCN.

A close defeat at the Worlds last August motivated the Brit to keep pushing himself for the past months. "Every time I have a hard session or struggle mentally to get on the bike I flick that video on and watch those four minutes of pain. The motivation appears right away," he said.

It hasn't been an easy process by any means but the rewards have been huge. "You get rid of every free bit of time that you have, ever, and in every respect. It's not an easy one, I have to admit but I get a lot of support from Ineos."