JOE NALLY has enjoyed a frantic and highly successful year on the bike but already has his eye on a shot at European glory next year.

The Charlestown cycle star’s busy period of two-wheeled action continued last weekend at the Scottish National Senior and Madison Track Championships where he dazzled at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome to win three gold medals and one silver.

After winning the 120-lap open 30K points race, Nally showed the class that saw him selected for British Cycling’s Junior Academy programme for a second successive year to see off the experienced Evan Oliphant to win the scratch 20K race, before grabbing two more medals in the madison.

Teaming up with Tom Chandler, the Hardie Bikes star and his teammate were narrowly edged out for the senior title by Fraser Martin and Ruari Yeoman but their silver medal ensured that they took home gold in the junior positions.

Having competed at the Revolution Series in Manchester last month and with training camps and a six-day race in Amsterdam still to come before the New Year, Nally’s busy schedule shows no sign of letting up.

Speaking to Press Sport, however, the S6 Woodmill High pupil already has his eye on the 2017 European Track Championships.

“This year, I learned how hard it can be when you’re non-stop with exams, cycling and travelling too much,” he said.

“I couldn’t do it all. Last year was about getting as many races and getting as strong as I could but, this year, I’m going to cut down on some unnecessary things and plan to focus on just a few things.

“I’m looking to perform on the road in the early part of the season with some races abroad but in the summer I’ll be looking to start performing more on the track. I’m aiming to be selected for the European Track Championships in the team pursuit. GB set a new national record this year but I think we could have an even stronger team, which is pretty exciting to think about.

“I’ve still got a bit of racing to do this year; in early December, I’m racing in the junior version of the six-day race in Amsterdam, then more training and a race in Apeldoorn, in Holland, in early January. It’s all go now.”

Looking back to competing at the prestigious Revolution Series and his junior academy selection, he continued: “I’ve been quite busy with blocks of training and the Revolutions, which was really good. It was my first experience of being on the same track as older guys so I was a bit cautious to begin with but then I got stuck in and saw it as another race.

“I had no idea of what to expect but I got a few decent results and was racing against some of the best guys in the world. It was good for me to start racing guys more experienced than me because that will help me to improve myself.”

He added: “The day after that I had my first training camp with the academy and it was good to be officially back on it.”