The Briton was beaten in four out of five races at the weekend's International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics Grand Prix in Nottwil, Switzerland.

Weir only beat his Swiss rival in the 400 metres, a distance he quit after Beijing 2008.

Having swapped road race wins this season, and being beaten by Hug at last month's Virgin Money London Marathon, Weir now says the Swiss is the man the beat in the T54 wheelchair races, "especially in Europe".

Hug won five world titles in the French city of Lyon last year in Weir's absence, and battle will be rejoined at the 2014 IPC Athletics European Championships in Swansea from August 18 to 23.

They are likely to go head-to-head over 800m, 1500m, 5,000m and, potentially, 400m.

Marcel Hug denied rival David Weir a record seventh London Marathon title last month ©Getty Images



Despite his praise for Hug, Weir remains confident of winning titles in Swansea.

"I've got a good record against Marcel," said Weir.

"He's never beaten me in a major championships and I'd like to keep it like that.

"Last year he got a massive confidence boost from the World Championships and it's good to see.

"He's such a nice guy that you want him to do well, but when you're racing him you don't, because you want to beat him.

"It's a great rivalry.

"He is very talented and he will medal no doubt about it.

"Maybe last year the pressure was off him as Kurt [Fearnley] and I weren't there and a couple of the big guys were not there too, but Marcel is strong."

But despite his major championships record, Weir, who won four gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympics, does not think he holds the psychological edge going into Swansea.

"I doubt he [Hug] even thinks about it," added Weir.

"They are too clever the Swiss.

"I just think London was a big step for every Paralympian.

"It was quite daunting if you weren't British as you saw nothing else but British flags.

"I'm not sure what went wrong for him as he was the one to beat going in and then I beat him every time.

"I'd like to keep that record but I'm not getting any younger.

"It's getting tough with the training and mentally keeping the focus."

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