JAMES LOWSLEY-WILLIAMS faces a race against time just to get to the starting line to defend his title in the Cirencester Twilight Criterium on Monday evening.

Lowsley-Williams, from Tetbury, won the inaugural Via Roma-sponsored event in 2015 which brought atmospheric and exciting pro cycling under floodlights to the streets of Cirencester and is desperate to defend his title.

“I am currently in Belgium doing three races with my NFTO pro cycling team in preparation for the Tour of Britain which starts on Sunday, September 4," he said.

“We are scheduled to return on Monday but it all depends on traffic etc and hopefully I can get to the race on time. I want to make the race so fingers crossed it all goes smoothly with regards to the journey.”

The roadworks in Cirencester have caused the one kilometre course to be altered this year. The finish will no longer take place in the Market Place and the hairpin bend outside the Fleece Hotel, which prompted so many spectacular crashes last August in the wet conditions, is not included this time.

Grant Bayton, himself a pro cyclist with the sponsoring Ride 24/7 team in Cirencester but also regional events officer in the south of England for British Cycling, said: “We have had a challenge to set a new course with the roadworks in town but we still think it is a great, highly technical course.

“There will be plenty of action in the heart of town with the finish up the rise towards St James’s Place and the Cotswold Leisure Centre.

“The only negative is that we don’t have the magnificent church in the Market Place as a backdrop for the finish.

“We wanted to make the 2016 running more of a cycle festival for Cirencester to coincide with the Phoenix music festival. So we spread over two days with two recreational rides on Sunday through some picturesque countryside.

“On Monday we have organised Kids Go-Ride Coaching from 3pm to 4.30pm in the Abbey Grounds. It's open to all ages so bring your bike.

“And the racing is the same format as last year with four races starting at 6pm, with the hour-long pro Criterium at 9pm.”

Lowsley-Williams used his intimate knowledge of the streets of Cirencester to steal a march on his rivals last year, eventually winning by a whopping 36 seconds. He expects it to be tougher this time.

“I have heard the route is not quite as tight as last year which will make it hard to win solo but that is still the plan. There is no better way of winning a bike race than on your own.

“I think the rain worked to my advantage as well so if it's dry it could be a faster and more aggressive race.

“To be honest, I haven’t seen the line-up but the UK has a good criterium calendar so there will be plenty of handy riders taking to the start line.

"And I’m sure my family will be out in force again.”

Monday will also be the day Lowsley-Williams finds out whether he has been selected for the NFTO team in the Tour of Britain.

“I started off really well this season with top fives and 10s consistently in the top UK races,” he said. “But then I had a few injuries which have put me on the back foot going into the Tour of Britain selection but we will see. I am working hard to make the team.”

Sir Bradley Wiggins and his gold medal-winning GB team-mate in the pursuit, Owain Doull, along with another Rio medallist Mark Cavendish, have all been confirmed for the Tour, which starts in Glasgow with stage five on Thursday September 8 taking in nearby Gloucester, Dursley, Yate and Bath.

Lowsley-Williams added: “Rio has done a world of good not just for cycling but all UK Sport and it can only get better with more and more young people taking an interest in sport.

“Cycling has definitely had a fantastic year with ‘Froomie’ and the Sky team dominating the road scene and our track team dominating Rio.

“This just shows the competition and strength in depth we have in the UK.”