Team GB finalise Rio preparations in Newport - and you can watch them

Team GB’s track cyclists have been delighting packed crowds at the Wales National Velodrome in Newport as they fine-tune their preparations for next month’s Olympic Games in Rio - and tickets are still available for the remaining sessions.

It’s the same venue where the track squad prepared for the London Olympics four years ago on their way to winning seven of the 10 gold medals on offer.

As then, hundreds attended yesterday evening’s session, posting pictures to social media, with some claims that the men’s team pursuit squad, led by Sir Bradley Wiggins who is seeking his fifth Olympic gold medal, were inside world record pace in training.

#BringOnTheGreat guys u were awesome, faster than world record time unofficially @WalesVelodrome #RoadToRio #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/RPZLm930Dg

— Andrea Hall (@andreahall___) July 27, 2016

For some of the spectators it was a case of standing room only reports the South Wales Argus.

Nevertheless, they cheered on riders including Mark Cavendish as he practiced a flying lap ahead of his tilt at the Omnium in Rio and Becky James, the former double world champion, who comes from just up the road in Abergavenny.

And we close with the men's team pursuit 4km! Huge thanks to everyone who's joined us today! #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/AUHKrt9QOp

— Wales Velodrome (@WalesVelodrome) July 27, 2016

Those lucky enough to get tickets were treated to temperatures and humidity levels not generally associated with South Wales.

Newport Live marketing executive Dee Montague commented: “We’ve had the heating up all week.

“Every session the team has here is done exactly how it would be in the games as we want them to be ready for the hot climate in Rio.

“Until you come and see it for yourself you don’t realise how amazing it is.”

Neil Richards, a local cyclist who trained on the same track as a youngster, brought his family along to watch the country’s top track cyclists go through their drills.

 He said: “It’s a great thing to come down and watch, especially as they were last here in 2012.

“It’s enjoyable to see them and it’s great to come and cheer them on, especially the people from Wales.

“I mean, it’s right on our doorstep almost so why not come and see it?”

Tickets are still available via Newport Live for two further open sessions tonight and on Monday before the team heads out for Rio.

Meanwhile Philip Hindes, who won team sprint gold at London 2012 alongside Jason Kenny and the now retired Sir Chris Hoy, has been tweeting video diaries of his preparations for Rio, including from Newport.

Trainingcamp life in our Olympic kit! https://t.co/NZvpGPOXMC

— Philip Hindes (@Philip_hindes) July 26, 2016

Not all the athletes are perhaps 100 per cent focused yet on next month and even a double Olympic champion can be distracted at times, as these tweets from women’s team pursuit squad member Elinor Barker reveal.

Riding home with @LauraTrott31 and she's all "cmon lets get back, no stopping to talk to anybody today." 1/2

— Elinor Barker (@elinorbarker) July 26, 2016

10 seconds later I realise she's not next to me anymore cause she's stopped to talk to a dog pic.twitter.com/TT9C03tlZG

— Elinor Barker (@elinorbarker) July 26, 2016