NEWPORT cyclist Matthew Postle is celebrating after winning gold and bronze at the World Masters Games, in Turin, Italy.

The world title has cemented the 43-year-old's position as one of the best Welsh riders ever, and the most outstanding rider of his generation.

A prodigious talent and a prolific race winner, he has excelled at every discipline of the sport - track, road racing and time trials, winning national championships at all levels.

Postle began his career with local club Coldre R.C, then moved on to Cwmcarn Paragon before joining top British professional teams Dynatech and Energy Duracell.

A Welsh and Great Britain international, he represented Wales at three Commonwealth Games in New Zealand in 1990, Canada in 1994 and Malaysia four years later, recording five top-20 positions.

In a highly successful career he won a stage of the Milk Race, the Welsh Road Race Championship, the Grand Prix of Wales, the Manx International Time Trial, the Bristol G.P, British Track Championships and numerous Welsh Time Trial Championships, setting course records that still stand today.

A superb stage racer, he contested many of the top international races throughout the world, including the Tour de l'Aviner and the Tour of Langkawi.

With little financial support in the 1990s, Postle withdrew from the sport at the height of his career.

But, after 15 years away, he began a low key return to the sport riding for Bush Healthcare and contesting local time trials.

In his comeback year he won a silver medal in the pursuit, at the National Masters Championship and finished fourth in the points race.

A world title eluded him in his heyday but Postle has now rectified that in the World Masters Games.

He finished a fine seventh in the 70km road race, claimed bronze in the 11km time trial and gold in the 3km individual pursuit, winning by 11 seconds.

With the European and World Masters Track Championships taking place in September and October, Postle could add more World titles to the one he achieved in Turin.