Velodrome could be named after national hero

CARMARTHEN’S recently revamped velodrome could be renamed in honour of Wales’ new cycling hero.

Council leader Emlyn Dole said the authority would seek the Tour de France winner’s permission to change the Morfa Lane facility’s name to the Geraint Thomas Velodrome.

The man of the moment has family links with Bancyfelin, west of Carmarthen, which also helped produced Wales and British Lions players Delme Thomas, Mike Phillips and Jonathan Davies.

Cllr Dole praised the Sky rider’s “amazing achievement” over the past three weeks and also the way he had conducted himself.

Speaking at an executive board meeting, he said a suggestion to rename Carmarthen Park’s velodrome in Thomas’ name was a “great one”, and that the 32-year-old’s permission would be sought accordingly.

Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford, who hails from north Wales, said it would good if his new global star could compete in September’s Tour of Britain race, which sets off from Pembrey Country Park on September 2, and heads north-east through Carmarthenshire before finishing the first stage at Newport.

Cllr Dole’s administration wants the county to become the cycling hub of Wales and is investing in a new closed circuit track at Pembrey and a cycle path from Carmarthen to Llandeilo, as well as the £580,000 velodrome revamp.

Thomas didn’t put a foot wrong during the 21-stage Tour de France and kept out of trouble after claiming the yellow jersey midway through and establishing himself at the top of the Team Sky pecking order.