MID Wales is set for another multi-million pound boost after it was confirmed the Tour of Britain cycle race will come back to the county in September. The exciting event brought more than £5 million to Powys last year when a stage of the British equivalent of the Tour de France started in Newtown.
Now, after months of lobbying, Powys has been successful in hosting stage four of the UK’s biggest professional cycle race on September 14 – with the route starting at Powis Castle in Welshpool. 96 competitors will leave the castle grounds on a 180km journey to Caerphilly, taking in Montgomery, Newtown, Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells and Brecon on the way.
Powys County Councillor Wynne Jones, who attended the tour’s official launch in London on Tuesday, said the event will provide a major boost to the Mid Wales economy and will showcase the area on national and international television.
He said: “Following last year’s huge success in hosting a stage of the Tour of Britain, the decision to try to secure a stage for a second year was not a difficult one, especially as we now know that more than £5 million of direct economic spend was accrued along the stage last year, of which a significant amount was spent in Powys.
“In addition to the direct spend, it provided a huge television and media platform on which to advertise our area and this year we shall be looking to maximise that opportunity even more.
“This year we have tried to spread the benefit by using Welshpool as the start, and in order to secure that stage for Mid Wales the council has agreed to provide sponsorship at last year’s level of approximately £10,000.
“There can be no doubt that last year this was money well spent and I am confident this year it will again be a huge success and create a lot of interest both locally and nationally.
“We also look forward to working with Welshpool Town Council with regards to events around the start of the stage, and with the County Times who last year provided first class media coverage of the event.”
Preparations for the 2011 Tour of Britain, the final tour to be held before the 2012 Olympic Games, are gearing up, with race organisers revealing an increased number of teams competing in Britain’s national tour this September.
16 professional teams have confirmed they will be taking part, a list which is headed by the UCI ProTeams of Sky, including Bradley Wiggins, and Team HTC Highroad, while Leopard Trek are due to make their Tour of Britain debut.
The Leopard Trek squad boast former Tour of Britain King of the Mountains winner and Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck and 2006 Tour of Britain winner Martin Pedersen among their ranks.
Home interest will be provided by the five British UCI Continental teams, Endura Racing, Motorpoint, Rapha Condor Sharp, Sigma Sport – Specialized and Team Raleigh, all of whom will be hoping to become the first British pro team to win a stage of The Tour of Britain.