Kristian House is confident ahead of the Tour of Britain

Canterbury cycling ace Kristian House insists his British Road Racing Championship crown has given him the confidence to feel at home with the big boys at next week’s Tour of Britain.

The 29-year-old claimed a host of major scalps in June when he topped the podium at the national championships ahead of the likes of triple Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins and sprinting star Mark Cavendish.

House, who will ride for Rapha Condor in the eight-day race around the UK, has achieved top 15 finishes in the last three editions of the Tour of Britain and sees no reason why he can’t pedal his way on to the podium when the Tour comes to an end in London on September 19.

"This season has been strange for me, I wasn’t expecting to win the nationals," admitted House. "It gives me a huge boost going into the Tour of Britain.

"I’ve been top 15 for the last three years so the obvious next step is the top 10; that would represent good progress and a successful race.

"But anything can happen in road cycling," he added. "So if I were to be ruled out of the general classification I would love to get a stage win; that would be a bit of a dream come true."