MATT RICHARDSON will pull on a Team England jersey for the first time next week feeling like a different cyclist from the one who won three Commonwealth golds for Australia four years ago.

In two years since switching allegiance to the country of his birth, Richardson has thrived for Great Britain — becoming a world record holder and the first British man to win the European sprint title.

“I think it’s safe to say that it’s paid off,” Richardson said. “The last two years have been incredible.”

Richardson’s goal in Glasgow is to retain the titles he won at the Birmingham Games — sprint, keirin and team sprint, this time in different colours.

His successes for Australia were capped by double silver and a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, but he feels he has gone up several levels since moving to Manchester.

“How I feel when I race now is completely different,” he said. “I feel fitter, I feel stronger, I’m able to race faster later in the day. In the past I would start to fatigue as I got towards the finals, I’d be throwing up after races and be in absolute pieces.

“Now sometimes I come off races nose breathing and go out and do it again.”

Richardson became the fastest man on two wheels in August, breaking the nine-second barrier in the flying 200m as he clocked 8.857 seconds at a specially organised event in Konya, Turkey.

Richardson said the opportunity would not have arisen when he was in Australia — one of many ways British Cycling’s resources have helped him.

“It almost feels like there’s a no expense spared mentality to the way we go racing…” he said.

“It feels like now I’m able to achieve everything I want to achieve. Whether I achieve it or not, who knows? But it feels like it’s just on me and how hard I want to work, how badly I want it. Everything else is taken care of.”

The Commonwealth Games are often down the priority list for Team GB riders midway through an Olympic cycle. But for Australia they are a big focus, and Richardson has brought that mentality with him.

“This is the first time I’ve ever had the opportunity to race for England,” the Maidstone-born rider said. “I’m going to grab on to that opportunity with both hands and enjoy it as much as I possibly can…

“Doing the most amount of competitions I can for Great Britain or for England is super important.”

Richardson beat his great rival Harrie Lavreysen to take the European sprint and keirin titles in February. Without the Dutchman as competition in Glasgow, Richardson is the clear favourite.

“I’m more relaxed, but it doesn’t mean I’m taking anyone for granted,” he said.

“I’ll race everyone as hard as I can but I know that if all goes well I’m going to get to a gold medal ride-off and my opponent is going to be be two or three tenths of a second slower than me based on how it’s been going.

“It’s an interesting dynamic. I go in potentially as the favourite, but I’ve got to channel that as motivation. If I’m the favourite, I expect to win it.”