Meet Emma and Ella - the 2 South Wales cyclists off to the Olympics with Team GB

Two cyclists from south Wales have been selected in the Team GB squad for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

So far 23 cyclists have been named in the Team GB squad, with further additions to be announced on July 4.

From the 23 already selected, five hail from Wales.

Welsh Cycling’s Director of Talent and Performance Development, Darren Tudor, said: "We've been eagerly anticipating the announcement of the Team GB squad, as our athletes have all worked incredibly hard in recent competitions.

"Each of these athletes has demonstrated exceptional talent and perseverance, making them true ambassadors of Welsh cycling.

"We are incredibly proud of their achievements and wish them all the best as they prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympics."

Welsh cyclists named in Team GB squad 2024 Olympics

There are five cyclists from Wales who have been named in the Team GB squad for the upcoming Olympics in Paris:

Women's Sprint

• Emma Finucane

• Lowri Thomas (reserve)

Men's Road

• Josh Tarling

• Stevie Williams

Women's Mountain Bike (MTB)

• Ella Maclean-Howell

Meet Emma and Ella - the two cyclist from South Wales off to the 2024 Paris Olympics

Emma Finucane

Emma will make up part of the Team GB women's sprint team at the 2024 Olympics.

Despite currently being based in Manchester, Emma, 21, is originally from Carmarthen.

She began riding at the age of eight with her sister through the Towy Riders, according to her British Cycling profile.

She joined the Great Britain Cycling Team academy programme in 2018 and since then has gone on to win national and world titles as well as Commonwealth Games and World Championship medals.

List of achievements

2020

• Silver medal: National Track Championships - 500m TT

• Silver: National Track Championships - keirin

2022

• Gold: National Track Championships - team sprint

• Silver: National Track Championships - keirin

• Bronze: National Track Championships - 500m TT

• Bronze: Commonwealth Games - team sprint (Wales)

• Bronze: Commonwealth Games - sprint (Wales)

2023

• Gold: National Track Championships - team sprint

• Gold: National Track Championships - sprint

• Gold: National Track Championships - keirin

2024

• Silver: UEC Elite Track European Championships - team sprint

• Gold: UEC Elite Track European Championships, Gold, sprint

• Silver: UEC Elite Track European Championships, Silver, keirin

• Gold: National Track Championships, Gold, 500m TT

• Silver: UEC Track Cycling European Championships - team sprint

• Silver: UEC Track Cycling European Championships - keirin

• Silver: 2023 UCI Track Cycling World Championships - team sprint

• Silver: 2023 UCI Track Cycling World Championships - sprint

Welsh Cycling said: "Emma has demonstrated exceptional skill and speed, making her a key contender in the women's sprint event.

"Although this will be Emma’s first Olympics, she has already delivered world-class performances at the Commonwealth Games and World Championships.

"With her outstanding turn of speed and a remarkably mature approach for such a young athlete, Emma promises to be an exciting competitor in some of the fastest racing we will see at the Olympics."

Ella Maclean-Howell

Ella will compete for Great Britain at the upcoming Olympics in the Women's Mountain Bike (MTB) event.

The 19-year-old grew up in Llantrisant and took her first steps in the sport at Maindy Flyers and Cardiff JIF.

She has gone on to become a two-time national mountain bike champion, and is currently ranked inside the top 70 (67 at the time of writing) in the world, MTB Data reports.

List of achievements

Some of Ella's top achievements, according to MTB Data, include:

• Silver: UCI Mountain Bike World Cup XCO/XCC/XCM 2024

• Gold: British National Championships 2023 - XCO - XCC

• Gold: British National Championships 2022 - XCO - XCC

• Gold: MTB French Cup 2024 - XCO/XCC/XCE + UCI XCO Junior Series

Welsh Cycling added: "Ella's remarkable abilities in mountain biking have earned her a spot in the women's MTB event.

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"Recently, she delivered an outstanding performance in the MTB World Cup, finishing in the top 10 and demonstrating her potential to excel on the world stage.

"This year, Ella has shown real consistency in both XCC and XCO events. By lining up alongside Evie Richards, she will be able to leverage her experience despite only being in her second year as an under-23 rider.

"It's an unbelievable achievement, and we are incredibly proud of her!"