From Becky James being crowned double world champion, to Geraint Thomas’ injury-defying support ride for Chris Froome at the Tour de France; from sell-out sportives to crowds packing the Tour of Britain roadside on Caerphilly Mountain, there is no doubting Wales has become a cycling powerhouse.

We have already explored the ways in which the principality has risen to the upper echelons of world cycling, as they target success at the Commonwealth Games next year.

But just what has made the country with a population only just over three million rise so rapidly and so far in recent years?

We called in those in the know to give us an insight into what has prompted this rise to the top in recent years.

See what they had to say over the following pages.