Commonwealth Games: Stewart and Blythe headline strong contingent

White Rose competitors comprise a third of England’s 27-strong cycling team at the Gold Coast, where the programme includes track, para-cycling (track), road and mountain bike.

Doncaster’s Tom Stewart, Adam Blythe (Sheffield) and Harry Tanfield, from Great Ayton, will go for gold in the men’s road race.

Stewart has travelled to Australia in good form after winning last week’s Tour de Normandie.

“I’m really proud to be going to the Games,” said Stewart, who will ride for his team JLT Condor in next month’s Tour de Yorkshire.

“I’m really motivated after my win last week.

“It was perfect training for the road race.”

Blythe is also in confident mood. He said: “I’m proud to have been selected for the Commonwealth Games this year and being able to represent my country.

“The road race course looks pretty challenging, but I feel in good form at the moment and myself and the rest of the team are looking forward to getting stuck into the race.”

Wakefield’s Melissa Lowther will ride in the women’s road race and time trial.

On the track, Charlie Tanfield will be aiming to continue an impressive start ot the year which saw him win gold as part of Great Britain’s team pursuit squad at the recent world championships.

Oliver Wood, from Wakefield, is in contention for both the road race and team pursuit on the track.

England will have high hopes for track sprinter Katy Marchant, an Olympic bronze medalist in Rio two years ago, who will be a leading contender in the women’s track sprint.

England’s mountain bike team includes Sheffield-based Olympian Annie Last. Last, who finished fourth in Glasgow four years ago, will ride alongside British champion Frazer Clacherty, from Middlesbrough.