ROADS around Monmouthshire will be temporarily closed later this month as cycling stars compete in the National Road and Time Trial Championships.

The sporting event, which is set to attract 35,000 spectators, will include riders such as Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins and multi-stage victor Mark Cavendish.

The National Time Trial Championships takes place on Thursday, June 26 with routes along Catsash Road, Newport, carriageways through Newbridge-on-Usk and a section of the Usk Road south from near the Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel to Caerleon will be closed.

The closures will take place between 1pm and 3.30pm and from 6pm to 9pm. Last year’s event, in Glasgow, saw a £2.59 million surge in the local economy.

Bill Owen, championship organiser, said: “Obviously, in events like this there will be the need to close roads, but we hope the Monmouthshire public will understand this and come out to enjoy the incredible racing that we will have on show.”

Monmouthshire County Council have sent out leaflets to households and business directly affected by the road closures and are continuing conversations with communities to keep all disruption to a minimum.

On Sunday June 29, the stars will be competing for the National Road Race Championships, which will start and finish in Abergavenny. Frogmore Street will be closed from 5.30pm on Saturday, June 28 to 10pm on Sunday, Cross Street will be closed from 5am on June 29 to 8pm, with Hereford Road shut between 9am and 7pm on the same day. Park Avenue, Lion Street, King Street, Market Street and a section of the A40 through Abergavenny will also be closed on the Sunday from 10am until 6pm.

Gwyn Matthews, chairman of Abergavenny Business Club, said: “This event is a very positive thing for Abergavenny, anything which increases visitors to the area can only be beneficial.”

The town centre of Monmouth will be closed from 9.45am until 10.30am and from 2.15pm to 3pm.