Latest news with #Aberaeron
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Backstedt wins national time trial to claim first elite title
Zoe Backstedt claimed her first elite title at the British National Road Championships by winning the women's time trial on ThursdayRiding on home turf in Wales , the 20-year-old rider beat defending champion Anna Henderson by 20 seconds to finish in 38min Georgi crossed the line 1:27 behind in championships are being held in Ceredigion, with the time trial starting in Ffos-y-ffin and finishing in will return to action on Sunday in the road race, which Georgi will be looking to win for a third consecutive year. They will be joined in the field by Backstedt's older sister Elynor, along with the Barker sisters Elinor and Doull will fly the Welsh flag in the men's race, with Josh Tarling and Geraint Thomas unlikely to participate after crashing out of the Giro d'Italia and Tour de Suisse respectively.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
County welcomes elite cyclists for championship
Ten national champion's jerseys are up for grabs across three days of racing [Ceredigion County Council] Businesses and locals believe welcoming some of the biggest names in British road racing to the Welsh coast will boost the area's economy and increase interest in cycling. The Lloyds National Road Championships takes to the streets of Ceredigion over the next three days. Advertisement Ceredigion council hopes it will "inspire young riders who will be able to see their heroes in action". The event starts with a time-trial at 09:00 BST on Thursday in Ffos-y-Ffin and will head to Ciliau Aeron and Llanerchaeron before finishing in Aberaeron. The circuit race will be held on Friday, with the road race on Sunday. Certain roads will be closed around Aberaeron, as well as in and around Aberystwyth for periods during the three days of racing. Kurt Forward, owner of the Castle Hotel said the event was "fantastic for the area". The 52-year-old added: "The weekend looks really good. I'm guessing there's going to be a lot of people in town." Advertisement Kerry Vamplew runs the Llys Aeron Guest House near Aberaeron, and was initially worried about the road closures due to the potential impact on guests, but said she had realised it was "quite a good thing that the finish line is literally outside the building". She added: "We're going to make the most of it. We've got our flags out... got our Welsh flags out as well to support our Welsh competitors." Kurt Forward says there's a real buzz around the town [BBC] Among the Welsh riders registered to compete are Owain Doull, sisters Zoe Backstedt and Elynor Backstedt, Elinor Barker and Megan Barker. However, two-time Olympic champion and 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas is not competing. Michael, Eric and Gareth say they will be taking tips from the elite cyclists [BBC] Members of Tregaron's cycling club will be among the fans, and race marshal Michael Fitch, 75, said: "The economy should benefit from it." Advertisement Eric Jones, 72, agreed it was "a great thing", adding: "I think any event whether it's football, rugby, cycling, anything, when it's local, it inspires people to try and do what their heroes are doing and I think it will have a great impact and increase the numbers of people cycling - which is already quite a number in this area." Gareth Wyn Thomas, 51, believes the routes will "showcase a lot of the brilliant countryside we've got". Rowan (left) and Stuart (right) both work at different bike shops in Aberystwyth [BBC] With spectators welcome to watch on any of the routes, businesses are anticipating a busy weekend, especially bike shops. Rowan Hayward, 21, from Summit Cycles said: "It comes at a great time with the recent developments in cycling infrastructure, so we've had some new cycle paths going in. Advertisement "There's been a lot of interest around cycling in the area recently... I hope the use of the cycle paths go up and more people will be excited and interested about cycling in the area." Stuart Hickman of Beiciau Afan Cycles added: "We've had visitors phone up the shop to see about hiring bikes for the weekend. They're coming from away, they can't get their bikes in the car so it's attracting people from all over." Clive Davies, the council's cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said the championships will be an opportunity to showcase Ceredigion as a great place for cyclists and for tourism, as well as a significant boost for the area's economy. "Ceredigion has a proud history of producing elite riders including Josh Tarling, Stevie Williams and Gruff Lewis and we hope that hosting this event will inspire young riders who will be able to see their heroes in action." Advertisement
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
National Road Cycling Championships arrive in Ceredigion
Businesses and locals believe welcoming some of the biggest names in British road racing to the Welsh coast will boost the area's economy and increase interest in Lloyds National Road Championships takes to the streets of Ceredigion over the next three council hopes it will "inspire young riders who will be able to see their heroes in action". The event starts with a time-trial at 09:00 BST on Thursday in Ffos-y-Ffin and will head to Ciliau Aeron and Llanerchaeron before finishing in circuit race will be held on Friday, with the road race on roads will be closed around Aberaeron, as well as in and around Aberystwyth for periods during the three days of racing. Kurt Forward, owner of the Castle Hotel said the event was "fantastic for the area".The 52-year-old added: "The weekend looks really good. I'm guessing there's going to be a lot of people in town."Kerry Vamplew runs the Llys Aeron Guest House near Aberaeron, and was initially worried about the road closures due to the potential impact on guests, but said she had realised it was "quite a good thing that the finish line is literally outside the building".She added: "We're going to make the most of it. We've got our flags out... got our Welsh flags out as well to support our Welsh competitors." Among the Welsh riders registered to compete are Owain Doull, sisters Zoe Backstedt and Elynor Backstedt, Elinor Barker and Megan two-time Olympic champion and 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas is not competing. Members of Tregaron's cycling club will be among the fans, and race marshal Michael Fitch, 75, said: "The economy should benefit from it."Eric Jones, 72, agreed it was "a great thing", adding: "I think any event whether it's football, rugby, cycling, anything, when it's local, it inspires people to try and do what their heroes are doing and I think it will have a great impact and increase the numbers of people cycling - which is already quite a number in this area."Gareth Wyn Thomas, 51, believes the routes will "showcase a lot of the brilliant countryside we've got". With spectators welcome to watch on any of the routes, businesses are anticipating a busy weekend, especially bike Hayward, 21, from Summit Cycles said: "It comes at a great time with the recent developments in cycling infrastructure, so we've had some new cycle paths going in."There's been a lot of interest around cycling in the area recently... I hope the use of the cycle paths go up and more people will be excited and interested about cycling in the area."Stuart Hickman of Beiciau Afan Cycles added: "We've had visitors phone up the shop to see about hiring bikes for the weekend. They're coming from away, they can't get their bikes in the car so it's attracting people from all over." Clive Davies, the council's cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said the championships will be an opportunity to showcase Ceredigion as a great place for cyclists and for tourism, as well as a significant boost for the area's economy."Ceredigion has a proud history of producing elite riders including Josh Tarling, Stevie Williams and Gruff Lewis and we hope that hosting this event will inspire young riders who will be able to see their heroes in action."
The Guardian
09-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Country diary: Shy gull chicks get nowt
The harbour at Aberaeron has been the scene of substantial change over the last couple of years as the flood defences are upgraded to reduce the very real risk of the town being inundated again. Long stretches of quayside have been fenced off, leaving me to peer through the mesh of the barriers at the scene below. Pwll Cam, the sheltered inner harbour, would usually be bustling with small boats at this time of year. Today it is empty and almost dry, with house martins skimming the remaining pool of water while wagtails glean along the edge of the exposed mud. On the edge of the quayside, where in normal times folk dangle their legs and eat chips, large iron rings provide an anchor for mooring ropes. In this newly protected habitat behind the fence, herring gulls have built a nest inside one of the rings, where two eggs are being incubated by an adult bird. Apart from the iron ring, the nest is mostly plant debris from the harbour, a cosy-looking fringe of moss and a few rotted strands of rope scavenged from the tide line. I watch as the other parent returns and they swap duties, with the new arrival tidying the nest before settling over the eggs. Some 16 miles to the north, a second family of herring gulls is also taking advantage of our built environment. At Aberystwyth railway station, between the beer garden and the ticket office, an area of granite ballast lies fenced off. Tucked against the red brick wall of a disused platform, a nest has been established over several seasons – but when I visit today it is empty. Fearing their predation I look more closely and realise that three chicks have already hatched and left the dubious protection of the scrape to hide – with perfect camouflage – in the shelter of a rail, while an adult bird stands guard nearby. The second parent arrives with much social noise, and the chicks immediately trot over – with impressive speed – and begin to beg. Perhaps predictably, the chick that is already the largest manages to get the biggest meal. There is probably a moral in there somewhere. Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at and get a 15% discount
