ABERGAVENNY Olym-pian Julian Winn is going full steam ahead for next year's Commonwealth Games and believes: "I can get the gold."

Winn is focusing on the Melbourne Games in just 12 months' time and has already started his new road season with one major international tour under his belt and the opening domestic race of the campaign.

The 31-year-old was mulling over retirement after the Athens Olympics but is now gunning for that gold in March 2006.

The former National Road Race champion said: "The Commonwealth Games is something I can win. I have said it for the last two Games and I've been so near, so there is a big push for that now."

Part of the strategy is to finish well in both this year's British road championships and also the Tour of Britain.

The Pinarello team rider added: "The race format for the Tour of Britain is something I can do really well in. I had a shocker last year and I want to show everyone that this is the type of race I can win - or certainly be up there overall."

Winn finished third in his defence of the 40th Perfs Pedal in Hampshire, a race won by fellow Athens Olympian Chris Newton.

That came on the back of riding with the Great Britain team in the sweltering heat of Malaysia a few weeks ago at the huge Tour of Langkawi.

He said of that event: "I was struggling for the first few days when I got sick and wasn't riding how I wanted to.

"In the last three or four days, though, I came really good with a good bunch of lads who were all serious about it.

"When I get the chance to ride that sort of race, I grab it with both hands. I'm not there to mess about."