08 January 2015
The exciting cycling sport Cyclo-cross is becoming more of a fixture in the British Isles – and S4C will be among the first broadcasters in the United Kingdom to show extended highlights from some of the big competitions.
S4C's Sunday sports programme Clwb will show highlights from the British Cycling National Cyclo-cross Championships on Sunday afternoon 11 January, with an opportunity midweek to enjoy more racing on the Clwb website, s4c.co.uk/clwb.
Cyclo-cross racing is similar to cross-country racing on bicycles, with thin tyres racing through mud and various obstacles in intense competition.
Llion Iwan, S4C Commissioner of Sports and Factual Programmes for S4C said,
"Cyclo-cross hasn't received the attention it deserves in the UK, but S4C aims to rectify that. The sport is gaining popularity in Wales and the UK, particularly amongst children and young people, and our Clwb programmes and online services aim to reflect that. Our coverage of Cyclo-cross highlights strengthens our cycling provision even more, with our coverage also including Le Tour de France, the Classics and many other cycling competitions."
Sunday's edition of Clwb will broadcast the British Championships as the competition is held in Abergavenny for the first time since 2005.
Last year's champion, Ian Field, the highest ranking British competitor on the World Cup qualifiers' list is the favourite to defend his title in the men's race with Liam Killeen, who represented Great Britain in the mountain biking competitions at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games also among the favourites.
But there will be plenty of Welsh representation too with Steven Roach, who clinched the Welsh Cyclocross title in Builth Wells in September, hoping to give the home crowd a reason to cheer.
And in the Women's race, Ffion James, Welsh Womens' Cyclo-cross champion - and younger sister of track cycling star, Becky - will hope to become the first Welsh winner since Nicole Cooke in 2001.
But with Helen Wyman, who has won eight titles in the last nine years, also competing, it will be a tough challenge for James, who won the Junior title in 2014.
In addition to the cycling, Clwb will also return to the football and rugby fields as Rhyl travel to Newtown in the Corbetts Sports Welsh Premier Leage with both teams aiming for a place in the top six.
And in the Guinness Pro 12, there will be another Welsh derby game on Clwb Rygbi as the Dragons travel to Liberty Stadium to challenge the Ospreys.
Join Dylan Ebenezer and Geraint Hardy for all of the weekend's sport news and highlights at 12.30 on Sunday afternoon.
