Wales to mark the finish line for Tour of Britain
WALES is set to mark the finish line for the Tour of Britain for the first time this year.
Cycling fans will have a chance to see some of the sport’s biggest names on the final day of the showpiece event as the 190km Stage Eight, which begins in Worcester, advances into Monmouthshire before racers pass through Newport.
Cardiff will welcome the finale of the last stage of the UK’s premier road cycling race on Sunday, September 10.
The news marks a major coup for the Welsh capital with the 2017 race set to be just the fourth time the race has finished outside London since the event was revived in 2004.
Wales has hosted a stage of the race every year since 2010.
The event opened in Anglesey in 2015, while last year two stages – a rolling 217km route between Denbigh and Builth Wells, and a 205km stretch from Aberdare to Bath – attracted thousands of spectators.
Riders will cross the finishing-line in King Edward VII Avenue, alongside Cardiff City Hall.
In total the stage will see riders tackle climbs of 2,042m.
Welsh Government Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: “I am delighted that this year’s Tour of Britain will be finishing in Wales for the first time. It is a real coup and another excellent opportunity for us to showcase Wales’ unique and beautiful landscape to the world.
“As we look forward to hosting the Uefa Champions League final in June, 2017 really is proving to be a great year for Wales to showcase its expertise at hosting world-class major events.
“I am sure people in Cardiff will come out in their droves to support the race.”
Race director Mick Bennett said: “Cardiff and south Wales has a huge cycling community, with star names like Geraint Thomas, Luke Rowe and Nicole Cooke all hailing from the area, so it is fitting that as Wales gets to host the overall finish of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain for the first time we bring it to the Welsh capital.
“We would like to thank our partners at the Welsh Government and Cardiff City Council for this fantastic opportunity and look forward to creating a memorable stage for this great occasion.”
Lord Mayor of Cardiff Monica Walsh added: “I am pleased that Cardiff has been chosen. As the capital city of Wales we have set out our aspiration of becoming one of the top cycling cities in the UK.
“The event will be a fantastic opportunity for the residents of Cardiff to come out and watch some of the most elite cyclists in the world.”
More information about the route and the Cardiff finish will be announced later in the summer.
The 1,311km Tour of Britain will take place between Sunday, September 3, and Sunday, September 10.
The race begins in Edinburgh and also visits Newmarket, Hemel Hempstead and Cheltenham.