WALES could have its own professional cycling team by 2016 with the ambition to one day support a Welsh rider through the Tour de France, writes Andrew Penman.

We Are Wales (WAW) Pro Cycling is the brainchild of former professional Eifion Weinzweig and Yann Dejan and the team claims it will have the £11m of financial backing needed to start up next season.

The WAW team will have its headquarters in Cardiff and four Welsh riders are set to sign up.

“It’s very exciting to be able to finally announce the creation of the project which Yann and I first started three years ago,” said Weinzweig.

“Our desire has always been to create something very special for the people of Wales, a team they can be proud to call their own,” said the 27-year-old from Bridgend.

“We all know how passionate Welsh fans are about sport and WAW will give them another professional team to follow in what is a rapidly growing sport.

“The ultimate dream is to one day support a Welsh rider through to the finish of the Tour de France, but that is a long way in the future.”

The plan is to base the team of riders at an elite camp in northern France under the expert direction of director of performance Dejan.

The riders will travel to races from there and make regular returns to Wales for promotional work and other events.

Dejan has experience of coaching and directing professional cycling teams, having worked with the likes of UCK Vannes and Team Bretagne in recent years.

“Having worked with Eifion for the best part of eight years, first as a rider and now as a business partner, I’ve learned a lot about my Celtic cousins,” said Dejan.

“Taking the experience and heritage that comes from cycling in Brittany and giving it to this magical and sport-crazy country, Wales, is going to be an intoxicating mix.

“It is going to be wonderful to see a Welsh team performing on the professional circuit in cycling and Eifion and I both intend to make it a success.”