A CYCLIST overcame searing heat to achieve a stunning time to win an European championship event for his country at a competition in Belgium.

Joe Perrett, a Glendene Junior Cycle team member, competed in 36 degree conditions but averaged over 30 mph to beat his closest rival Bob Jungles from Luxembourg by 16 seconds to win the under-23 European Championships for Great Britain.

The 74 competitors from a total of 32 countries competed in a 18 mile time trail from the outskirts of Ostend to Hooglede.

Perrett, of Ilford, said: “It was a good course. The bends our there looked worse than they were and I was still able to fly around them. I like a long course and had been training hard for it before the nationals.

“I was told a week before that I was doing the European Time Trial so I started doing 28 kilometre time trials around Hanningfield reservoir, which is a tough course – a lot like the one in Belgium with long straights and a few climbs.

“I did a few time trials as well as a few good long road rides and then backed off for the nationals.”

He also rode for the Great Britain road team in Belgium and finished in the leading group in an event which was eventually won by an Italian.

As well as being victorious in Belgium, Perrett has won two national titles for ten and 25 mile distance time trials and has also secured a bronze medal in the National Championship Road Race in Abergavenny in Wales.