MATTHEW Langridge is feeling good.

He is comfortable declaring this summer’s Olympic Games in Brazil – his fourth as part of the British rowing team – will likely be his last.

There is a reason for that.

“I’ve just finished the best block of winter training I’ve had,” he says.

“I set a personal best on the Ergo, and done well in all of our internal assessments.

“The timing is right to do well in Rio.”

Langridge can put that progress to the test at the European Championships this weekend, when he will race as part of a men’s eight.

It means the 32-year-old will not defend a men’s pair title he won at last year’s edition.

After crewmate James Foad was ruled out following back surgery, selectors shuffled the squad.

The former Hartford High School pupil returns to a boat in which he has won a medal – one silver, the other bronze – at the past two summer Games.

Five other Olympic medallists join him.

“Look at the crew – including the cox, there’s seven previous world champions,” he says.

“It’s definitely the best chance I’m going to have to become Olympic champion.

“As an athlete you compete to win, so I want the medal that’s missing from my collection.

“That doesn’t mean I feel I’ve failed up to now, but there’s disappointment that I’ve not got my hands on the one everybody is after.

“We’d known for a few weeks [before the squad announcement] that we’d be competing together at the Euros, and have been thinking about how we can make the boat go as fast as it can.

“That’s our first chance to race, and we’re excited to see what we can do.”

Langridge tells the Guardian he has left nothing to chance in his preparation, something even a disappointing result at March's trials – when he failed even to make the A final in a pair with Andy T Hodge – can disrupt.

“The trials is a strange one, even we couldn’t put our finger on why things didn’t go so well,” he adds.

“But that’s behind us now, and can be forgotten.

“There’s a bigger picture, and that’s what I’ve tried to remember all winter.

“The biggest thing I’ve changed is my consistency; in previous years I’ve been interrupted by illness or injury – rarely anything serious, mainly annoying niggles.

“This time I’ve not missed a session, and that’s something I’ve learned is important.

“You can watch the guys around you and look at how they go about things, but everybody’s approach is different – some guys look like they’re going to kill themselves every day!

“What you have to do is keep faith with what you’re doing, not get carried away worrying about whether you should do that bit extra than you are.”

Langridge formed the fastest British men’s pair ever with Foad, finishing as runner-up at successive world championships behind Kiwi duo Eric Murray and Hamish Bond.

However they were further from the reigning Olympic champions last summer than previously.

Asked what impact Foad’s injury has had, Langridge admits to mixed emotion.

He says: “James is a great friend of mine, and the way he’s handled what is a big setback has shown what an impressive guy he is.

“I’m not sure I'd I’ve had held it together like he has.

“But he’s encouraged me, and been genuinely happy to see my results. That won’t have been easy for him.

“Rowing can be ruthless, and the strength of this squad means you can’t lose focus on what you need to do to get picked.

“From that point of view, I’ve had to make sure him not being around has not affected me.”

For now, the focus turns to the final part of a build-up that started not long after London 2012.

And Langridge plans to savour every moment.

“I’ve travelled to the same places and done training camps over and over,” he adds.

“But now I’m stopping to take it all in, and that’s a different sensation.

“This time next year, my life will be very different.”

The men's eight begin their campaign in Germany on Friday afternoon.

They have been drawn against Belarus, Poland, Ukraine and Spain.

Northwich Guardian:

Matthew Langridge, in the stroke seat, and James Foad won a gold medal for Great Britain in the men's pair at last year's European Championships. Picture: Peter Spurrier/Intersport Images