CYCLING

Geraint Thomas could carry the hopes of Wales as well as Great Britain if he competes in the elite men’s road race at the Cycling World Championships in Glasgow on Sunday.

Thomas has been competing in Poland in the Tour de Pologne and it has yet to confirmed if he will race the road race or time trial in Glasgow.

Wales’ former Tour de France winner warmed up nicely for the World Championships with a strong performance to come third in the 16 kilometre time trial on the penultimate day of the Tour de Pologne.

Already celebrating with some silverware in Glasgow is rising Welsh star Emma Finucane.

The Carmarthen-based rider was part of a Great Britain team that recorded a best major women’s team sprint result in 12 years with silver at the Championships.

Lauren Bell, Sophie Capewell and Finucane recorded a time fast enough to break the world record at the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome, but Germany went even faster to take gold in a time of 45.848 seconds.

It marks another step towards world class for 20-year-old Finucane, who won two bronze medals on the track at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

NETBALL

Wales are set to conclude their Netball World Cup campaign this weekend – with a chance to finish ninth at the tournament.

Wales coach Emily Handyside has urged her team to back-up their victory over Trinidad and Tobago and claim that place within the world’s top 10.

The Welsh Feathers earned their second victory of the tournament with a convincing 70-55 win on Friday that sets up a final game shoot-out against Scotland on Saturday to decide ninth and 10th places.

“It felt so good to win today, and win well,” said Handyside.

“We’ve been building towards that performance. Now we have to back it up on Saturday for our last game against Scotland.”

RUGBY LEAGUE

The inaugural Wales Rugby League Wheelchair Invitational League kicks off this Sunday with a mouth-watering couple of fixtures at the Cardiff City House of Sport, starting at noon.

First up, newcomers Cardiff Blue Dragons have a baptism of fire against the experienced North Wales Crusaders in what will be the hosts’ first-ever game. Argonauts of Kent then face Hereford Harriers at 2pm. The fifth side for the 2023 season is Torfaen Tigers.

However, as the ethos around this new league is for the growth and development of the sport, only one elite player per side is allowed to be on the pitch at any one time – an elite player is one who plays in any competition at Wheelchair Super League level or is part of a wheelchair international side’s training squad.

The emphasis here is wheelchair as some members of the Wales Physical Disability RL squad may also give this version of the game a try.