Varnish looks to past experience

Varnish took two golds in the 2008 European Championships

Bromsgrove cyclist Jessica Varnish hopes past experiences will help her as she competes at the Under-23 European champions in Belarus.

The 18-year-old, who trains full-time with the GB squad, won three medals at last year's European Championships.

"I was a junior last year, so I know what it will be like," she told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

The sprinter recently moved to Manchester after leaving school and is enjoying being a full-time athlete.

"The training is very intense, but it's just what I thought it would be, I'm really happy with how it's going and I think I've settled in well."

I'm not in my best condition but hopefully I'll be alright Jessica Varnish

"We all live in the same block of flats together, the Under-23 squad, so it's really good and it's nice to not have any school-work," she admitted.

Varnish, who could ride a bike by the age of two and started on the Olympic development programme at 15, says the Under-23 European Championships are not her main focus this year.

"It is an aim for me because it's a big championship, but as I've been taking my A-levels only three or four weeks ago now, I haven't trained full-ime for it, so I'm not in my best condition but hopefully I'll be alright and I'll just see how it goes."

When she returns from Belarus she will begin training for the World Cup series which runs from October through to March, when the World Championships are.

"I've not been full-time for very long now so I'm looking forward to the good run-up because I'll be full-time up until October so hopefully I'll show some good form then," she said.