CWMCARN Paragon's GB and Wales international Paul Sheppard (left) is set to embark on probably his most important season.

Races will take him as far as the West Indies, France and Belgium, but his sights are set on a less exotic location, Manchester, where in July he will be aiming for a medal at the Commonwealth Games.

The talented Newbridge cyclist, now riding for Anglia Sports, has been Welsh track, British pursuit and Welsh road race champion.

He got his season off to an excellent start in the 138km Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race in Essex.

After initiating the race-wining break, he crossed the line in fifth position, 55 seconds behind winner Gordon McCauley (RDM-Flanders).

Next week he is off to Trinidad and Barbados for a series of criteriums and track races. In the corresponding events last year he gained five victories and several top ten places.

On his return he rides the tough RAS stage race in Ireland, followed by a trip to the Continent to contest a stage race in Brittany and a series of Kermesses in Belgium. In June he is back in Wales to ride the Five Valleys Road Race. Two weeks track training will be followed by the National Road Race Championship in Manchester.

Further track training in Majorca should see Sheppard in top form for the Commonwealth Games where he is due to ride the points race, the 20km track race and possibly the time trial and road race.

Another former Cwmcarn rider looking for Games success, Anthony Malarczyk (Atom Elite) started his season with a double.

In race one of the Abergavenny Handicap Series over 75km at Talgarth, Malarczyk quickly made up the eight minutes advantage given to the first group to beat Steven Roach (Rugby Velo).

The double was completed with a convincing victory in the Betty Pharoah Memorial Race at Wick where he attacked on the final climb to come home 25 seconds ahead. Garry Jones was ninth in the Abergavenny race.

l Newport's Alan R Jones and Sons Cycle Speedway team opened their new season with a splashing victory at Swindon.

The young Newport side won 94-86, adjusting better to the wet and windy conditions. Newport's captain, Nicky Evans, top scored with 20 points and received solid support from Clark, Simmons, Jones, Turner and Hughes.

The club are now confident of winning the home leg in a few weeks time. lTeenage world junior cycling champion Nicole Cooke defeated a strong field that included world senior champions of 2001, 2000 and 1999 to win 12th Troseo Citta Rosignano in Italy

Cooke, 18, made a dream start to her professional cycling life after attacking with 200m to go. No one could catch her and she finished alone 3 seconds ahead at the line, with Noemi Cantele second and Simona Parente third.