ABERGAVENNY flier Julian Winn is set to turn his back on road racing and concentrate on track competition when the new £7million Newport Velodrome opens next year.

The 29-year-old also spoke for the first time about his Commonwealth Games heart-break after finishing a "disappointing" 22nd in the 115-mile road race at Manchester 2002 - but vowed: "I'll make amends at the Olympics and next Commonwealth Games."

"I thought I was a realistic medal contender," said the former King Henry VIII Comprehensive School pupil.

"I was very disappointed. When I came home with nothing I thought it was flop.

"If I took the Commonwealths out of the year I would have thought it was a brilliant 2002.

"I know I could have won it but my form was dipping and it's always very hard to hold on to form.

"I had superb form for about four weeks around the British Road Race Championships and, in hindsight, the Commonwealth Games were two weeks too late for me.

"But I'm not worried too much about it, that's life - but I'll be at the Olympics and the Commonwealths to make amends.

"It has been a really good year and the ultimate highlight was winning the British Road Race Championships and the Commonwealth Games was the biggest disappointment."

Then Winn revealed: "I've got to go track orientated which is a completely new domain for me because I don't ride the track at the moment.

"Maybe I can be better at the track than the road and it will benefit me when the Olympics and next Commonwealths come around. But I'll still continue with occasional road races.

"Track racing opens up more avenues than on the road. And age is quite a barrier with road racing and I'm a veteran at 29 whereas in track racing there is no real age limit as long as you keep up the results and keep to a high standard you can go on for longer."