Press

Press

26 August 2023

Highlights of the Vuelta competition in Spain starting this Saturday will be shown on S4C for the first time.

race was first shown in 2018, and the final part of the jigsaw sees La Vuelta a España – the last of the great Racing tours, added to S4C's calendr.

Rhodri Gomer will be presenting the highlights from the race, he says:

"Since having followed our first Tour de France on S4C back in 2014, cycling popularity has exploded here in Wales, with a lot of the thanks given to the Welshman, Geraint Thomas.

But by now there are many more new and exciting riders coming through the ranks here in Wales, like the Olympic champion Owain Doull; Norwegian tour champion Stevie Williams and the phenomenon from Ffos-y-ffin, Josh Tarling."

Geraint Thomas has already been confirmed to be racing in the Vuelta for only his second time, a lot of attention will naturally be on the Welshman from Cardiff. Geraint is certainly keen to make up for his last appearance at the Vuelta in 2015 where he had an unfortunate crash.

Geraint has said in a recent interview that the quality of the riders are amazing this year with a number of leading young riders, the whole podium for the Giro, Vingegaard and Pogačar (first and second at Le Tour this year) also competing – a star studded line up as he points out.

Graham Davies, S4C sports commissioner says:

"We know how popular cycling is for our audience, and S4C is delighted to have the opportunity to broadcast all three major tours during the year, furthering our commitment to being the home of sport in Wales. Having watched Geraint Thomas come so close in the Giro earlier this year, we hope the Welshman can do one better this year, and we can be in the midst of another historic moment for sport in Wales."

Rhodri Gomer agrees:

"We will be following the excitement of the races every day on S4C thanks to our nightly highlights programmes.

After the disappointment of the Giro for Geraint Thomas, he has a renewed chance to go head-to-head with Primoz Roglic this month along the Spanish roads. But it won't be an easy task for the Welshman, with last year's champion Remco Evenepoel there to defend his title and Jumbo Visma looking to complete the triple crown (winning all three grand tours in the same year) with Roglic and the world's best rider, Jonas Vingegaard offering a double threat to the others' hopes.

We wonder if Geraint can reach the heights once more?"

S4C home of Welsh sport.