CYCLING supremo Richard Wooles has expressed his jealously at not being able to participate in Abergavenny's Festival of Cycling this weekend.
The Abergavenny man who is the national track coach for the Canadian team of riders hoping to give British cycling stars a bloody nose at London 2012, admitted he is never happier than when riding around Monmouthshire with friends and is pretty envious of the riders who will be taking part in next week's Iron Mountain Sportif.
The Sportif - the mass participation ride for the public - is the big Saturday event for the three-day 2011 Abergavenny Festival of Cycling which includes the Get Connected Welsh Open Criterium on Friday and the Tour of the Black Mountains Sportif on Sunday.
The Iron Mountain Sportif forms part of a massive day at Bailey Park which will also incorporate the Abergavenny Carnival.
39-year-old Wooles who rode for Wales in the Commonwealth Games, moved to Vancouver some years ago to take up his current position, and speaking from his new base the Abergavenny lad said, "I'm very jealous of those riders taking part in the Iron Mountain Sportif.
"I was in Wales a little while ago for two days and the first thing I did when I returned to Abergavenny was to borrow a bike and spend a couple of hours cycling around Monmouthshire and Crickhowell.
"I can't think of anything better than getting on my bike and riding those familiar lanes. They are still some of the best and quietest roads in the world to ride.
"There will be hardly any traffic for the Iron Mountain Sportif, so it will be a terrific day for the public to enjoy."
Wooles added, "I'm coming back towards the end of the year and I'm looking forward to getting on my bike and hitting the same roads - even if it is raining."