AMY Gornall has been seeking out cobbles as she prepares for the British National Championships which get under way tomorrow.

The accomplished Barnoldswick youngster will take to the startline alongside some of the country’s most talented riders this week including defending road race champion Laura Trott and London 2012 silver medalist Lizzie Armitstead.

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Gornall, who rides for the Aprire/HSS Hire squad, is hoping to impress against more senior competition as she attempts to make her mark in the under-23 race being run within the senior action.

And with the course featuring the cobbled climb of Michaelgate, Gornall has been doing her homework.

“I’ve desperately been trying to find a few cobbled climbs to ride to build into my training,” said Gornall.

“I want to ride as well as I can and try and finish in the second bunch over the line.

“I think on the first time up the climb it is going to split up so it is all about my positioning on the climb. If I am at the front then I will be okay so we will have to see.

“I also want to finish in the top 20 of the under-23 race.

“Most of the top girls are under-23 as well so I know it will be a tough.”

The road race takes place on Sunday with Gornall also down to start tomorrow’s time trial.

Padiham’s Rebecca Rimmington is also down to double up with the IKON Mazda star perhaps more likely to shine in the time trial given her background in track cycling.

But the East Lancs star has shown her form on the road as well this season with her latest outing seeing her place 18th in the Curlew Cup last weekend having helped team-mate Laura Massey to overall victory.

Gornall was 48th in the same race.

Trott will be among the favourites to retain her title with question marks over Armitstead’s fitness following her nasty crash in last week’s Tour of Britain.

Dame Sarah Storey will be in the field along with her team-mates Katie Archibald and Ciara Horne giving Pearl Izumi Sports Tours a series of cards to play.

Last year’s runner-up Dani King (Wiggle Honda) is another to look out for.

Archibald and Storey will also be among the favourites for tomorrow’s time trial.

The men’s time trial on Thursday will feature Olympic champion Steven Burke who is set to start the race for Team Wiggins in a strong field which includes three-time national champion and heavy favourite Alex Dowsett.

Padiham’s Simon Wilson is another who will be at the startline.

The Polypipe man is attempting to double up and he will also be taking on Britain’s best in the road race on Sunday where he is likely to ride a supporting role as his squad attempt to set up one of their under-23 riders for a strong finish.

Wilson came home 44th in the Beaumont Trophy over the weekend won by Bolton’s Chris Latham.

Barnoldswick’s Ian Wilkinson will not be riding as he continues to recover from injury but Chorley’s Brad Morgan will be in the field for the road race with Raleigh GAC.

Team Sky’s Peter Kennaugh will be defending his title with the Manxman using the race as preparation for the Tour de France, for which he is on Sky’s longlist alongside fellow Brits Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas.

The latter two will not be in Lincolnshire this week but sprint star Mark Cavendish will be in the field as will Simon Yates, who was third last year.

Russell Downing (Cult Energy Pro Cycling) and Scott Thwaites (Bora Argon 18) are dangerous outsiders with both having won the Lincoln Grand Prix run over a similar course.

Welshman Luke Rowe, who impressed in the classics this spring, and his Team Sky team-mate Ian Stannard, the national champion in 2012, are also worth keeping an eye on.