DANI King is hoping to compete in the Women’s Tour of Britain on many more occasions – but her main focus remains the track.

The 23-year-old from Hamble helped her Wiggle Honda team to fourth place during the inaugural road race.

She believes the five-stage event is here to stay.

“It was an amazing five days; the support on the roads was incredible, thousands came out to watch us even when the weather was awful and the excellent coverage on ITV4 made it a real step forward for women’s cycling,” said King, who finished 26th of a field of 90 and helped team leader Giorgia Bronzini to fourth overall.

“I was really pleased with my performance,” continued King, main picture, who was one of 75 to finish the race.

“Giorgia’s a two-time road race world champion so I was racing purely for her which meant doing a lot of work out on the roads.

“But I was really happy with the shape I was in and I finished in the front group every day, so my team was really happy with me.

Annual event “I don’t see why this can’t be an annual event now, the biggest road race for women in the UCI calendar with the same coverage we got this year.

“I really enjoy riding on the road, racing for someone else and getting satisfaction when they finish a race off.

“A lot of my racing on the track, although it is a team event, is done for myself so it’s a breath of fresh air to go away with the girls and do some road racing, because it’s not as pressurised or as intense.”

Dani is also hoping to impress on the road on May 25, when she will be defending her Milk Race crown in Nottingham and at British Cycling’s National Road and Time-Trial Championships in Monmouthshire, Wales from June 26-29.

But the Commonwealth Games, which are due to be held in Glasgow from July 23-August 3, is her main event of the summer.

“My focus is on the track and will be until Rio 2016,” said King, a three-time world champion and London 2012 gold medallist in the Team Pursuit.

“Hopefully I’ll be selected for the Commonwealths. Unfortunately there’s no Team Pursuit for the women which is really disappointing but hopefully I’ll ride in other track events, including the Individual Pursuit and potentially the Road Race as well.”

Dani, an ambassador for Hampshire County Council, was speaking at a London 2012 legacy event at Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley, where she encouraged Year 10 and 7 pupils from Hamble College, Toynbee School and Thornden School to cycle.