The biggest Tour of Britain launch event in the UK!

16 August 2011

Despite the very mixed weather yesterday, that didn't deter hundreds of local people, as well as local businesses and cycle clubs from coming together to celebrate the launch of the Welsh stage of the Tour of Britain.

Organisers from the Tour of Britain, who came along to the special launch event commented how 'this was the biggest launch event we have been to in the UK!'

The event, which was held yesterday (Monday 15th August) at Crescent Road in Caerphilly, officially announced the Welsh stage of the Tour of Britain.

Cllr Ron Davies, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning commented, "This special launch event really helped to whet people's appetites ready for the main event next month – the Tour of Britain is the UK's biggest professional cycle race, which attracts over a million spectators to the roadside and hundreds of thousands more and television and via the internet".

He continued, "With the finale of the fourth stage of the race set against the backdrop of Caerphilly's magnificent castle, this is a real opportunity to showcase Caerphilly county borough to a worldwide audience, and I would love to see our residents turning out in force to welcome the 96 Tour of Britain riders to our county borough on 14th September".

Cycle clubs including the Cwmcarn Paragons, the New Tredegar Nomads, Cardiff Ajax and Newport Phoenix came along to show their support at the launch event yesterday, as did cycle retailers PS Cycles, EC Cycles and Castle Cycles.

Local firm, Braces Bakery also came along, armed with welsh cakes for everyone, and Sustrans, GAVO and various teams from Caerphilly County Borough Council also came along to support the event including Community Safety Wardens, Public Services, Outdoor Education team and Sport Caerphilly.

Simon Richardson, who will be riding in the Tour of Britain next month, also came along to show his support at the launch event.

On Wednesday 14th September, the 96 cyclists taking part in the Tour of Britain will enter Caerphilly county borough in Nelson, travel through Tredomen, Ystrad Mynach and Llanbradach, along Pontygwindy Road and into Caerphilly town centre, before a gruelling climb to the top of Caerphilly Mountain. They will then travel back into Caerphilly town centre, for the stage finale at Caerphilly Castle.