CHEERS and applause rang out from onlookers today as one of Wales’ largest cycling events swept across Gwent.

Now in its second year, The Velothon Wales sees up to 12,000 riders speed across Gwent, attracting professional and amateur riders for its 140km and 178km closed-road races.

Cyclists set off from Cardiff on a route that snakes through Newport, Caerleon, Monmouthshire, and Torfaen and across Caerphilly Mountain before returning to Wales’s capital.

While last year saw frustrated residents’ throw tacks on the road to protest road closures, this year’s Velothon received a warmer response from visitors.

The first batches of solo cyclists passed by the Newport Transporter Bridge at around 7.30am, cheered on by small groups outside the Waterloo Hotel and Bistro.

Several solo riders, groups, cycling clubs and tandem riders were in good spirits, reportedly giving motivational speeches to each other as they passed.

After travelling through Caerleon and Monmouthshire and tackling Torfaen’s gruelling Tumble incline, they were greeted by heavy showers as they entered Pontypool.

The first riders were met by Margot Greer, Chris Whitehead and Krystal Jackson, who were waiting for 68-year-old David Whitehead, an experienced cyclist from Swansea.

Malcolm and Johanna Silver also brought along their six-year-old grandson Joseph, who currently rides a six-gear bike and hopes to ride in the Velothon when he is older.

By about 12pm, around 100 people had gathered on the A4043 next to Tesco, cheering and whooping as the riders sped past towards the Caerphilly section of the route.

Eighty-one-year-old David Collier was keeping a keen eye out for Pontypool Cycling Club jerseys and was the oldest serving member before quitting cycling four years ago.

“I have cycled for 40 years but gave it up because I have two metal hips. I came along to see it today as I didn’t catch it last year because I wasn’t very well.”

Producing a picture of himself cycling in 1995 on the Isle of Man, he described the two hardest parts of the course as The Tumble and Caerphilly Mountain.

Grainne Mansfield, 55, of Pontypool, attended with husband Colin, 54, and believes the Velothon was “better advertised this year” and that people “feel better about it”.

She said: “I think the community should support anything that is going on here really and it does have an effect on tourism.”

An entire family also waved homemade placards for Pontypool-born Kevin Young, 50, who returned from his home in France specifically to take part in the race.

His father, Graham Young said: “He was expected here at 11.30am and we’re still waiting. We’re wondering if he has popped to his uncle’s for dinner on the way.”

An energetic and small crowd also gathered outside The Ship Inn in Caerleon as the professional riders made their way around the course.

As a result of Caerleon road closures, a back-up of cars built up, with many confused drivers being forced to make u-turns after being met with road closure signs.

There was also confusion on New Road, when many people walking to the village centre wandered into the cycle route causing staff to repeatedly shout to walkers to “get back on the pavement”.

Roger Dean, from Caerleon, stumbled across the race while going to pick up his papers and decided to stay and watch.

“It’s nice to have something like this in Caerleon,” he said.

While the outlook in Gwent was generally positive, many individuals still claim the Velothon causes major disruption.

Cerys Ann Williams, on Facebook, said that she had no way of leaving her house and missed a delivery as a result of the road closures.

Christopher Martin Arnold, on Facebook, added that “it could be planned a lot better”.

“I and a lot of other people give to charity without blocking 150km of road for an entire day when the cyclists are only on a specific stretch of road for a few hours,” he said.

“Probably costs local businesses more than it raises in charity funds.”

While stewards had difficulty stopping visitors walking out front of cyclists, one driver ended up on a section of the closed-road route in Monmouthshire, temporarily halting the race.

A Velothon Wales spokesman said: "We worked closely with the police and marshals to ensure the complete safety of the participants, which involved pausing the event at two locations, Nant y derry and Llanellen, until the vehicle was removed from the course.

“The safety of the riders is of paramount importance and fortunately this incident only caused minimal disruption to the event and all riders were able to continue.”