RISING star Hugo Robinson insists he is in the best form of his life and can catch his British rivals cold by becoming national U23 cyclo-cross champion tomorrow.

The Debenham 18-year-old has enjoyed a successful transition from junior star to U23 debutant this season, finishing 31st in the European U23 at Chantry Park as Ipswich hosted the first international cyclo-cross in the UK for 20 years last November.

But the double junior champion, who also scooped the U16 title in 2010, has sent out a strong signal of intent to his more experienced opposition – by revealing he is hell-bent on finishing on top of the podium on Sunday.

“I am really pumped for it. I am in the best form of my life and I am going there to win,” said Robinson, who will be representing X RT / Elmy Cycles.

“I don’t think my rivals will be surprised by that. I’ve always been a frontrunner and it has been my main goal for the whole season.

“I wasn’t sure how I was going to prepare for it at the start of the season but I have built up a lot of confidence this season and my rivals, although older than me, will be under pressure because it will be their last year or two at this level.

“But I’m coming in fresh and there won’t be any expectation on me.

“I won my hat-trick last year and I am determined to make it four in a row this weekend.”

Robinson has been competing in a series of elite European competition over the festive period – including the Zolder World Cup in Belgium on Boxing Day – and he believes this has filled him with great amounts of self-belief.

“I am going into it feeling very confident,” he added. “It’s been a big learning curve for me racing out in Europe but you quickly learn to survive.

“You either sink or swim at that level. It’s tough.”