Baxter only too aware of uphill challenge to reach Commonwealth Games

THE road to the Commonwealth Games is almost upon Alain Baxter - but despite 16 years on the slopes as a professional, the skier-turner-cyclist admits he faces his toughest challenge yet.

 TESTING TIMES: Alain Baxter knows he faces an uphill task to succeed in the saddle

Baxter, who finished third at the 2002 Olympics, only to have his medal stripped from him for failing a drugs test,  will take to the track for the first time competitively at the National Championships in Manchester on October 20 six months after announcing his retirement from skiing.

Baxter, who was cleared of any wrong doing after it was confirmed his failed drug test was as a result of the use of a nasal inhaler, cited persistent back injuries as his reason for calling it quits in April but not one to sit back and enjoy retirement he found comfort on a saddle in June.

At 35 and with no professional cycling experience Baxter faces an uphill battle to board the plane to Delhi and the ‘Highlander' isn't underestimating the task in hand.

"In the end, I maybe could have made the Olympics in Vancouver, but I didn't want to just make the Olympics," said Baxter.

"I'd always wanted to try track cycling and, in many ways, I wish I had done it years ago. I had to take some time off, and I'm not quite at the level I was, so it's frustrating, but we'll see how it goes in Manchester.

"I do wonder, if I'd gone down the cycling route, what I might have done. But I don't regret anything in my career.  I just want to know how good I can be, and whether the potential is there."