AS Newport basked in another glorious sunny day, there was one small part of the city where the temperature rose several degrees higher than the 25C enjoyed by the rest of us.

At the Velodrome, the heating was turned up uncomfortably high as members of the Paralympics GB cycling team were put through their paces ahead of the Paralympic Games in Rio next month.

A month ago Team GB's cycling team sought to recreate the stifling heat of Brazil in Newport by turning the Velodrome into a giant hothouse at their training camp there, ahead of an incredibly successful Olympic Games in which all track cyclists won medals, either individually or as part of a team.

If their Paralympics GB counterparts go anywhere close to replicating that performance, they will have a tremendous Games, and there was talent aplenty on show at the first of two days of open sessions.

Thirteen cyclists and four pilots will head to Rio next month, including multi Paralympic gold medallist Dame Sarah Storey and Jody Cundy, a five-time Paralympic gold medallist in swimming and latterly cycling.

Whether or not Paralympics GB newcomer Megan Giglia is successful in Rio, no-one will be able to say she was unprepared, after a punishing morning during which she powered around the Velodrome for an impressive eight laps, from a standing start, then took part in two sessions of broken pursuit, basically the familiar cycling pursuit behind a derny motorbike, but with a built-in break.

Giglia, aged 31, is a newcomer to the Paralympics scene, having taken up track cycling after suffering a stroke in January 2013, which had left the then multi-sport coach with right side paralysis.

The way she pedalled around the Newport track suggests that, less than four years on, she is a medal prospect, and her efforts drew warm cheers and applause from a crowd of around 80 people who attended the open morning session.

Among those suitably impressed was Alan Williams, from Cwmbran, who had brought his grandchildren along.

"I came down when the Team GB cyclists were here and I had to come again. It's brilliant," he said.

"All of these cyclists here today have inspirational stories to tell, and it's important to support them. I'll be looking out for them on the television next month."

Among the others in action in the morning's open session were visually impaired cyclists Steve Bate and Lora Turnham, and their pilots, respectively Adam Duggleby and Corrine Hall.

Two more ParalympicsGB cycling team sessions at the velodrome are open to the public, both on Thursday, which is a race simulation day.

The sessions will run from 10am-12.30pm (doors open at 9.30am), and 2pm-6pm (doors open at 1.30pm).

Tickets cost £4 to sit and £2 to stand (concessions are available), and can be bought at https://tickets.newportlive.co.uk/en-GB/categories/sport or by telephoning 01633 656757. On the day, they can be bought at the Velodrome.