BBC CYMRU WALES SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2009
Winner announcement: BBC Wales Today Date: Monday, 7 December, BBC ONE Wales, 1830-1900 GMT
Full award programme: Tuesday, 8 December, BBC ONE Wales, 2235-2335 GMT

Geraint Thomas returned to cycling in dramatic form at the World Cup in Manchester in October to win gold in the individual pursuit.

After the record-breaking effort in qualifying, the 23-year-old went on to win the final in only his third race in the event

In qualifying Cardiff-bred Thomas set the second-fastest time in history, 4min 18.418secs, which would make him the fastest rider in the World over the 4km distance under the current rules.

It would also have been enough to win a world championship most years and his performance arguably upstaged even Sir Chris Hoy.

The only person to go quicker than Thomas in the event has been Chris Boardman, who set a time of 4mins 11.114secs at the World Championships in 1996.

After the record-breaking effort in qualifying, the 23-year-old went on to win the final in only his third race in the event.

The Olympic team pursuit gold medallist's qualifying time would have been enough to win a world championship most years.

Beijing Olympics gold medallist Thomas capped a great weekend at Manchester by winning another gold medal as part of the team pursuit as Great Britain's riders underlined their continuing domination at the pinnacle of the sport.

Thomas' efforts were all the more remarkable given he had to recover from a broken pelvis and other injuries suffered in a fall in a time trial in Italy.

That is not the only bad injury Thomas has suffered during his career, having had his spleen removed after another bad fall in Australia in 2005.

If he were to receive one of Welsh sport's ultimate accolades, Thomas would be in familiar territory having been a winner of the Carwyn James Junior Award at the 2004 BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year event.

He is also among the riders who will join new British squad Team Sky next season.

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