CYCLING

There was an inevitable feeling of a changing of the guard after a momentous weekend in Welsh cycling.

Geraint Thomas – now 37 – and 19-year-old Josh Tarling both competed for Great Britain in the time trial at the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow.

But it was the teenager who finished on the podium, not former Tour de France winner Thomas.

Tarling was tipped for the top by Thomas after the youngster from Aberaeron claimed a surprise bronze medal.

The young gun set the early pace in the race to Stirling Castle and was only bettered by champion Remco Evenepeol and former two-time winner Filippo Ganna.

Thomas came 10th on the day but was delighted to see Tarling do better.

“He’s a big boy,” Thomas said of Tarling.

“He’s got power, and this is his forte. It’s unbelievable to see him riding so well so early in his career and he’s got a bright future,” he said of the 2022 junior world time trial champion.

Tarling himself was looking at how the future might shape up after his impressive performance.

“There are some big names I got to sit next to on the stage today and I wouldn’t mind being like one of them some day,” he said.

 

CRICKET

The reliable Colin Ingram steered Glamorgan to their second win in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at Hove against Sussex.

Ingram hit 73 off 75 deliveries, with eight fours and a vast six over mid-on, as Glamorgan chased down a modest target to win by four wickets with 21 balls remaining.

But it might have been a different story if the powerful left-hander had not been dropped by Harrison Ward off Sean Hunt when he had made just three.

Chasing a total of 276, Glamorgan lost opener Tom Bevan in the second over. But then Ingram and Eddie Byrom (69) piled on 145 for the second wicket in 23 overs to put Glamorgan on top.

Glamorgan continued to lose wickets – with cameos coming from captain Kiran Carlson and Ben Kellaway – against a tight ring of Sussex fielders.

But a typically cool-head innings by Sam Northeast, who made an unbeaten 40, saw his side home.

 

BOCCIA

Wales’ Paralympic champion David Smith has confessed there is something about the sport, he is yet to learn – how to play outdoors!

The Swansea-based triple Paralympic champion had to settle for a silver medal at the European Para Championships in the Netherlands at the weekend.

Smith was beaten 5-2 in the final of the men’s Boccia BC1 final in Rotterdam by Dutchman Daniel Perez.

The event took place in an outdoor arena and Smith admitted the first time a major boccia tournament had taken place outside had thrown up a few problems.

“The problem with the outdoors is there’s a lot of wind around,” said Smith.

“I felt the breeze when I was throwing the first ball and it was not helpful.

“If it continues to be outdoors, I will have to adjust to it, but I don’t think it will. Boccia is an indoor game.”