News: Welshpool welcomes The Tour’s return in 2012

The Tour of Britain will return to Powys for a third successive year this September, as Welshpool hosts the start of Stage Six of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race.

Following the success of last year’s Welsh Stage, a repeat is on the cards for 2012 with the National Trust’s Powis Castle providing a scenic backdrop to the start of one of the toughest stages of the race. Helping launch the stage at the National Trust’s Powis Castle were Rapha Condor Sharp’s Luke Grivell-Mellor and 1955 Tour of Britain winner Tony Hewson, both of whom live locally.

Luke Grivell-Mellor (Rapha Condor Sharp), Tour of Britain mascot ToBi and 1955 Tour of Britain winner Tony Hewson in the foreground against the backdrop of the National Trust’s Powis Castle

Cllr Graham Brown, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Culture, said: “We are delighted that the race is returning to Powys for a third year in succession. “The event is the country’s best known and most viewed cycling event and provides a wonderful showcase for the county. The first two events proved a huge success with thousands of visitors flocking to Powys, providing a welcome boost to the economy”.

“We’ve designed a spectacular Welsh stage this year to start off what will be three very tough days for riders in The Tour of Britain,” said Race Director Mick Bennett. “The race start at Powis Castle may be one of the most picturesque in professional cycling, but that doesn’t undermine what will be a very challenging route that is sure to play a key part in the battle for the race leader’s IG Markets Gold Jersey.”

Riders will depart from the National Trust’s Powis Castle at 10.15 on Friday 14th September, taking in a ceremonial lap of Welshpool town centre, before tackling a 189.6 kilometre route through the heart of Mid-Wales to the finish in Caerphilly.

On the way through Powys almost 100 of the world’s top cyclists will race through Montgomery, Newtown (host to a stage start in 2010), Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells and Brecon, before the SKODA King of the Mountains climb of the Brecon Beacons takes the race into South Wales.

Officials from Powys County Council, Welshpool Town Council, the National Trust and The Tour of Britain launching the stage

Familiar roads from the 2010 and 2011 editions of The Tour of Britain guide the peloton through Powys as far as Builth Wells, before this year’s route takes the race up and over Epynnt for the SKODA King of the Mountains climb of Cwm Owen, via the B5420 Builth/Brecon Upper Chapel Road, adding an extra challenge to the Stage Six route.

Tour of Britain will take place between Sunday 9th and Sunday 16th September 2012
Stage One Sunday 9th September Ipswich to Norfolk Showground
Stage Two Monday 10th September Nottingham to Knowsley
Stage Three Tuesday11th September Jedburgh to Dumfries
Stage Four Wednesday 12th September Carlisle to Blackpool
Stage Five Thursday 13th September The Stoke-on-Trent Stage
Stage Six Friday 14th September Welshpool to Caerphilly
Stage Seven Saturday 15th September Barnstaple to Dartmouth
Stage Eight Sunday 16th September Reigate to Guildford

Re-launched in 2004 after a five year absence from the calendar, The Tour of Britain is now the UK’s biggest professional cycle race and the country’s largest free-to-watch sporting event. Ranked at the 2.1 level by the UCI, the sport’s governing body, The Tour of Britain attracts some of the world’s top cyclists, including Olympic and World Champions and Tour de France stage winners, to compete on British roads each September.

The Tour of Britain is proud to be partnered with IG Markets, SKODA and Yodel.

Event Website: http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/