GWENT will host the final section of the Tour of Britain as it finishes in Wales for the first time.

The UK’s premier road cycling race will come to south east Wales on Sunday, September 10 before finishing in Cardiff.

Wales has hosted a stage of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain annually since 2010 but it will be just the fourth time since the race was revived in 2004 that the Tour has finished outside of London.

The 180km Stage Eight will start in Worcester before passing through Monmouthshire, cutting through Abergavenny, Monmouth and Usk.

Riders will then follow the route along the A449 into Newport before finishing at Cardiff City Hall, where the Tour route was launched on Tuesday, April 25.

Wales has hosted a stage of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain annually since 2010, including the opening stage from Anglesey in 2015.

The Welsh Government economy secretary Ken Skates has welcomed the news, which coincides with the Visit Wales’ Year of Legends.

"I am delighted that this year's Tour of Britain will be finishing in Wales for the first time,” he said.

“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.”

Mick Bennett, Race Director of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, added: "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."

The Tour of Britain will take place between Sunday, September 3 and Sunday, September 10.

Further details of Stage Eight are expected to be announced later this summer.