GWENT take on Europe as the county supply the entire team for the highlight of the Isle of Man's cycling festival today.

And Cwmcarn's Anthony Malarczyk has a real chance of upstaging leading Continental riders to grab a place on the winner's podium at the finish in Douglas.

Gwent trio Paul Sheppard, of Cwmcarn, Cwmbran's George Rose and Abergavenny's Nick Kenwright have ambitions of their own but will, primarily, be working for Malarczyk to get across the line as high in the Isle of Man International as he can.

That means beating the French, Italians, Belgians and other leading riders from other countries who are on the island at their own game. But Malarczyk has already proved that he has got what it takes to do exactly that.

He came home a superb third in Monday's International Time Trial over the famous motorcycling TT course and was only beaten by local hero Andrew Roche, in first place, and top Briton Stuart Dangerfield as runner-up.

Now, after a couple of days training, Malarczyk and Sheppard, who have been over there all week and were joined by Rose and Kenwright last night, are ready to push on. Sheppard said: "There's a good field here and Anthony has always done well over here.

"It's three laps of the TT course and I think that will suit him. I think it is possible to get something out of this."