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Raise Your Game: How did you get involved in cycling?

Luc Jones: My father (Ian Jones) was a Welsh cycling champion, and he used to tell me about all of his races when I was little. When I was eight-years-old, I asked him if I could start cycling. So he started picking me up from school on the bike, and we'd ride home every day.

I took up the sport from there. As I got older people saw talent in me, and I started getting properly coached.

It's a really good sport once you get into it. It's quite hard both physically and mentally, and you've got to be determined if you want to get far. There's a really good social side to it as well, going out on club runs on Sundays with your mates.

RYG: How do you keep yourself going when you're halfway round the track and your legs are burning?

LJ: With a national championship event, something you've trained all year for, you just remember a years worth of pain and suffering. You think 'This is what it's all for,' and then it doesn't matter how much you're hurting, you just go out there and give it your best shot.

RYG: Are you aiming to compete in the London Olympics in 2012?

LJ: Of course I am! I'm not saying I'm going to win in London because I'll only be 20, but I'm definitely targeting the 2016 Olympics and then who knows.

People have told me I'm good enough, and I know in myself I'm good enough without being big-headed. But I've got to be determined, because I'll be getting up early on cold, wet, winters days.

RYG: How will you fit your cycling around your college work?

LJ: It's just something you have to do. Whether I'll go to University or not I don't know, but a lot of people have gone through college and done their cycling at the same time. So if other people can do it I'm sure I can.

Obviously, you need qualifications through school and college because if cycling doesn't work out for you, then you've got something to fall back on.

RYG: How do you manage your time effectively?

LJ: You've just got to plan it all out, write everything down, work out the amount of time you spend training every day and the amount of time you've got free. Then you can fit things in and organise things.

I like to have a structured training programme. Some people like to work on different things every week, but I prefer the same thing every week. It helps me to plan my life and do my own thing.

RYG: The Beijing Olympics have been really successful for the Great Britain cycling team. Who inspires you to go and do your best on the track?

LJ: It's got to be Chris Hoy, especially after his three gold Olympic medals. Theo Bos is another idol of mine. He's very good tactically.

RYG: How important are tactics to you, especially in your event?

LJ: It's a very tactical event. The average person watching it on TV can't really understand the tactics involved unless they understand the sport. Some people prefer to ride from the front, some people prefer to ride from the back, and there are lots of tactics involved in both aspects. I'm a better tactical racer than an all-out power racer, so I ride from the back and it suits me fine.

RYG: If you could compete in any other sport, what would it be and why?

LJ: That's an easy one. I'd like to be a motocross rider. I've got my own motocross bike which I go out on when I've got some free time.