Neah Evans says it would be “incredible” to go for gold at next year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games since she is “part of the legacy” of the 2014 event in the city.
The 34-year-old two-time Olympic silver medallist has enjoyed a glittering career on the cycling track, winning a raft of major medals at World, European and Commonwealth level.
She claimed silver at Tokyo 2020 as part of the women’s team pursuit and the same medal four years later alongside Elinor Barker in the women’s madison.
Evans did not take the sport up full time until 2017 but says what happened in Glasgow three years earlier was pivotal to her journey.
“When we have got major championships a lot of things get bandied about like legacy and inspiring other people and I always find them a bit like buzzwords,” she explained.
“But realistically I would never have got into track cycling if it hadn’t been for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
“They built the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome and that’s where I first did my track accreditation – I did a taster session.
“When I went to it, I was very much not a cyclist. I had never been on a fixed-gear bike, I had never had clip-in pedals, never been inside a velodrome. So I am part of the legacy of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
“To go back and race it 12 years later, it would be absolutely incredible to come away with a gold medal. I know it is going to be difficult, the track events are very hotly contested, but it is a major target for me next season.”