ABERGAVENNY cycling duo Julian Winn and Steven Roach have been named among the nine-strong party to fly the flag for Wales in March's Commonwealth Games in Australia, writes Keith Fairbank

Games veteran Winn, 33, pictured, now also Wales' national coach, and Roach, 21, will join gold medallist Nicole Cooke in the squad hunting for glory Down Under.

Road-race specialist Winn, who still lives in Abergavenny, is especially keen to return with a medal after missing out both in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and Manchester in 2002.

Winn, who will feature in the men's team event, said: "I've been so near, yet so far!

"The road race is a complete lottery - anything can happen. I was in great form in Kuala Lumpur but the race just didn't pan out for me. Then in Manchester I was again in excellent form but I hit my peak just two weeks early.

"I need to put these experiences together in order that the team around me can build the right training regime for Melbourne."

And in his role as coach, which he took up in June of this year, Winn will also be on hand to help steer the likes of newcomer Roach to glory.

Mountain biker Roach was born in Abergavenny and now trains full-time in the Forest of Dean having been introduced to the sport by his uncle.

Roach recalls: "I was only 14. I went with him, tried it and enjoyed it, and it's gone on from there."

A member of the Red Kite Cycle team, Roach's call-up follows an impressive season in which he won the National Junior Cyclo Cross Championships. He then became the youngest man to win both the under-23 and elite national cyclo cross trophies.

Wales team manager Phil Jones said: "We have selected the strongest possible team for the Games - one that will pose a real threat to the rest of the field when they take to the tracks and roads of Melbourne.

"These athletes have already proven their potential on the world stage and are more than capable of podium positions next year."