AN opponent that is faster represents a challenge for Matthew Langridge as he adjusts to being in a different boat.

The Olympics hopeful, not used to losing after being crowned world champion twice in the past three years, admits he was disappointed to finish second at last week’s Samsung Rowing World Cup.

“I thought we would do better,” said the Northwich rower after his return to Great Britain’s men’s eight in Belgrade.

“It went ok overall, but we’d shown a speed in training that we didn’t replicate when racing against [world champions] Germany in the final.

“For three quarters of the race we were in a good position but we still missed out, so there’s plenty now to work on.”

Langridge, who turns 29 this weekend, admitted that an injury that forced stroke Constantine Louloudis to withdraw in the hours before the first race had hampered the crew too.

The Leander Club member was one of four rowers that switched seats in a subsequent reshuffle.

He told the Guardian that he would need more time to adapt to an eight, a boat in which he won silver at the Beijing Olympics in China four years ago.

“The biggest challenge is adapting to the different personalities in an eight,” he added.

“It takes time to work out what makes people tick and I have to get used to that again after spending the past three years as part of a settled line-up in the four.

“I loved being out there racing again even if it came as a bit of a shock at first because the eight is much more powerful.”

Langridge returns to race action later this month at the second World Cup in Lucerne.