With the European Games kicking off in Minsk today Team GB features three Welsh riders Jess Roberts, Megan Barker and Ethan Vernon as they fly the flag for Wales.

The trio along with other top GB talent will be hoping to bring back the medals in what will be a highly competitive cycling competition.

Speaking ahead of the event, Barker who represented Wales at the 2018 Commonwealth Games spoke about the team and her personal preparation ahead of what will be another important event for the 21-year-old.

“I haven’t ridden with the under 23 squad for nearly a year now,” Barker said. “So we’ve spent a bit of time just getting used to riding with each other again, but the sessions are going really well and we’re starting to get a feel for how fast we’ll go on race day,” she continued.

With the likes of Kirsten Wild from the Netherlands and other top European athletes racing on the boards, Barker is hopeful the track team will bring back a medal.

“We’re really hoping for a medal and to win would be amazing,” explained Barker.

“But if we put in a solid performance as a team and get our target time then I think we can all come away happy,” added the 21-year-old.

It goes without saying that having Welsh riders within a Team GB squad is a huge achievement, and with the quality of riders improving all the time Barker feels it’s good for the younger generation in Wales to see Welsh athletes competing at a high level.

“The level of racing in Britain is constantly improving and more and more of those riders are coming from Wales.

“There’s so many big Welsh names to look up to in cycling now and I think that’s really inspiring to younger talent coming through looking to achieve big things,” Barker said.

Another Welsh rider who has had some terrific results on the road over the past month is Jess Roberts. Most recently she won two stages of the Tour de Bretagne Feminin and before that at the Tour Series she won three consecutive rounds.

But out in Minsk the 20-year-old is looking forward to getting back on the track: “I’m really excited to get back racing on the track after a few months just racing on the road which I really enjoyed.”

Like Barker, Roberts is confident the team can produce the goods. “We’re definitely going there with the aim of getting on the podium, but also gaining experience to help us improve along the way,” said Roberts.

The results Roberts has had over the past couple of month’s means she is one of the in-form riders, and when asked about her personal ambitions a podium place would be the icing on the cake.

“I’m excited to get out there and see what we can do. Personally I am in the hunt for a podium position in my individual event and to just gain experience,” the 20-year-old said.

Ethan Vernon another Welsh athlete who will be representing Team GB during the Games will be looking to help the men’s road team achieve success. Along with the likes of Jim Brown, Charley Calvert, Gabriel Cullaigh and Scott Thwaites it’s a team which has the potential to get a result.

Speaking about the nature of the course, Vernon said: “From what I’ve seen online about the course, it suits me. It’s short, fast and punchy so definitely interested in winning the road race.

“I’m coming into so good form recently and my power data is above where it’s been for the past year so I’m excited to see what I can do,” explained the 18-year-old.