Blazing saddles in a hot, ‘unforgettable’ Velothon

MORE than 8,000 riders and crowds of supporters brought a taste of the Tour de France to South Wales on Sunday as Velothon Wales hit the roads again.

The biggest closedroad event of its kind in Wales was blessed with fantastic weather, as the event, revamped for 2018, returned for a fourth year.

Seasoned cyclists taking on the challenging 140km and 125km courses set off past Cardiff Castle and headed east to Newport, before the fearsome Tumble climb in Blaenavon.

Then came the turn of those getting in the saddle for the first time at a world-class closed road cycling sportive.

Almost 400 first-time riders left Usk, decorated with artistic cycling creations, in the 60km version and joined the stream of cyclists as they powered their way towards the final significant climb at Caerphilly Mountain.

Run 4 Wales chief executive Matt Newman said: “Velothon Wales has evolved over the years to become an unmissable event on the Welsh sporting calendar. Even with the sun beating down, the riders, volunteers and organisers all had smiles on their faces after a truly unique cycling experience on the closed roads of south Wales.

“Communities turned out in their droves once again to cheer on our amateur riders to make the 2018 instalment a truly unforgettable event.”