With the Beijing Olympics now 120 days (at the time of writing) away, all the athletes heading out there will be crossing their fingers that they’ve done the necessary training to give them the edge of their rivals.

Making his intentions clear of coming away with a medal, Specialized’s Liam Killeen bagged his first win of the year, taking the tough 75 mile NMBS Marathon Champion race in Fountain Hills, Arizona, US recently.

Killeen contracted a viral infection “of indeterminate origin” early last year and had to call an end to the remainder of the 2007 season, so this win will be hugely reassuring for the British rider.

Despite the high temperatures they had to race in, Killeen and a small group set a fast pace, and by the second lap many riders were suffering from lack of fluids and later, cramp. Killeen kept the hammer down however, demonstrating his fitness gained from a doubtless hard winter.

“I just tried to keep the same tempo going. I really didn’t attack. The other guys got a bit tired and drifted back,” Killeen said following the race.