PONTYPOOL and surrounding towns and villages will play host to a major international cycling event this year when 15,000 cyclists ride past some of the borough’s most iconic landmarks.

Organisers of the inaugural Velothon Wales have confirmed the planned details of the two completely closed road routes that will take professional and amateur riders on a journey through South Wales on June 14.

The televised event could become one of the biggest dates in the Welsh sporting calendar, with a 140km route and a shorter 50km route giving cyclists a choice of cycling experiences.

Among the challenges will be the 6km Tumble climb, where riders will be able to pit stop at the top to take in the views before starting the descent towards the Unesco World Heritage Site at Blaenavon.

Pontypool Road Cycling Club chairman Dax Jenkins, 41, said: “I think it’s fantastic for British cycling and especially for Welsh cycling.

“It looks like a great event. It should attract top international cyclists as well as leisure cyclists trying to do the same.”

The Velothon route will start and finish in Cardiff city centre, taking in Newport, Caerleon, Usk and Abergavenny, before Pontypool and Blaenavon, and then Crumlin, Ystrad Mynach and Caerphilly along the way.

The full route in Torfaen can be seen here: The highest peak, at an elevation gain of 1152m, marks the entrance of the 140km Velothon into Torfaen, 85km into race.

- Descends into Blaenavon on B4246

- Upper Waun Street

- Lion street

- Broad street

- Market street

- Across roundabout onto A4043 (Cwmavon Rd alongside Afon Lwyd river)

- Past Varteg

- Past Abersychan

- Through Pontnewynydd (still on A4043)

- At Pontypool the route heads Westpast West Monmouthshire Comprehensive School on the A472

- Through Hafodyrynys

- South on A467 at Crumlin

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