Tomos Dafydd

Image source, Rex Features Image caption, Geraint Thomas has represented Ineos Grenadiers since the team's inception - then as Team Sky - in 2010 Geraint Thomas is feeling fragile. It's the morning after the night before, when the former Tour de France champion brought the curtain down on his glittering career. After Sunday's final stage of the Tour of Britain, Thomas was greeted by thousands at a special ceremony at Cardiff Castle, before heading off for a party with family and friends.

Wales could be about to make footballing history over the next two games. Two wins over two legs against the Republic of Ireland is what's needed to ensure qualification for their first major tournament. A record number of tickets have been sold for the first leg, at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday evening. Rhian Wilkinson's side will be hoping the crowd of more than 16,000 will help them secure a victory to put them in the best possible situation for the second leg in Dublin on 3 December.