Welsh cycling has announced its first professional team 'We are Wales'

Welsh cycling has announced it will have its first professional team next year with the ultimate goal of having riders competing at the Tour de France.

The 'We are Wales' (WAW) Pro Cycling Team was launched in Cardiff, revealing major plans to represent the country on the professional circuit throughout Europe.

Welsh cycling has produced Olympic champions Nicole Cooke and Team Sky's Geraint Thomas in recent times but, until now, there has been no professional team representing Wales.

The WAW's headquarters will be in Cardiff Bay and the team of riders will be based at an elite camp in northern France under director of performance Yann Dejan.

"It's very exciting to be able to finally announce the creation of the project which Yann and I first started three years ago," said Eifion Weinzweig, who has joined forces with his former professional coach Dejan to create the new team.

"Our desire has always been to create something very special for the people of Wales, a team they can be proud to call their own.

"The ultimate dream is to one day support a Welsh rider through to the finish of the Tour de France, but that is a long way in the future."

The WAW project has been using the blur Group plc's commercial platform to help raise the £11.1m needed to fund the team for the next four years.

"We are confident of having the necessary finance in place for Year 1 of the project in the next few months," said Weinzweig.

"Our support teams are signed up and ready to step into action later this year and we aim to announce our team of 12 riders at the start of 2016.

"We want to provide a platform for the Welsh economy to attract global investment into the region as well as engaging with local communities in Wales.

"One of our key objectives is to develop a long lasting legacy for young cyclists in Wales."