Tour of Britain final stage to feature route through South Wales

The Lloyds Tour of Britain Finale will feature a route starting in Pontypool.

The 2025 professional cycle race will include two stages across south Wales, culminating in an overall finish in Cardiff on September 7.

Welsh cyclist, Geraint Thomas, will make his final road race appearance in the event.

The first stage, on September 6, will see the world’s top cyclists take on a 133.5-kilometre (83-mile) route from Pontypool to a summit finish atop The Tumble in Monmouthshire.

Welsh Government minister with responsibility for sport, Jack Sargeant, said: “The Lloyds Tour of Britain showcases the very best of Welsh landscapes and our passion for cycling.

“These challenging routes promise to be a great test for some of the world’s top cyclists whilst providing a wonderful viewing experience for spectators at the many fantastic locations along both routes.”

Stage five will start from Pontypool Park in Torfaen at 11.30am, with fans in the town also able to see the race later in the day, as the route snakes back through Pontypool, at around 2pm, after its first ascent of The Tumble.

The route will then head to Usk and Chepstow, taking in the first of five categorised king of the mountains ascents at Llangwm, averaging 4.7 per cent over its 3.6 kilometres.

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Immediately after Chepstow, the race tackles Itton Hill, the second climb of the day, almost five kilometres in length, and heads on to Monmouth, and then the Old Ross Road climb on the way to Abergavenny.

From the town, the race will head to its first ascent of The Tumble, averaging over 8 per cent across its 4.9-kilometre distance, before a fast descent into Blaenavon and along the Afon Lwyd valley to Pontypool.

The stage retraces its route to Usk, turning north via the Chain Bridge across the River Usk, to head back to The Tumble and the final, gruelling race up to the finish line at the summit, after more than 2,330 metres of ascent during the day, for an expected finish just before 3pm.

The race resumes the next morning, September 7, at 11.45am from outside the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales in Newport, and while the 112.2-kilometre (69.8-mile) final stage only features two categorised climbs (Mynydd Bedwellte and Caerphilly Mountain), the constant undulations add up to almost 1,750 metres of ascent.

Located with under 10 kilometres of racing to go, the 1.4-kilometre, 9.7 per cent average gradient climb of Caerphilly Mountain will again prove decisive for the stage winner in Cardiff, with a fast and relatively straightforward run in to Cardiff, including passing the Maindy cycle track, before the finish on North Road, alongside Bute Park, at around 2.45pm.

Hundreds of cyclists will race through the streets of Pontypool as part of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Finale (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)Torfaen County Borough Council leader, councillor Anthony Hunt, said: “Hosting a stage of the Lloyds Tour of Britain is a prestigious event to bring to Torfaen and the extra footfall will give a boost to our local economy.

“It’s a chance for residents and cycling fans to get up close to world-class athletes in the borough and give Geraint Thomas a cheer in his final professional race.

“This is a great chance for people in Torfaen to see a first-class sporting event for free on their doorsteps.

“We’re also looking forward to welcoming visitors to the area for the start and finish and showcasing some of our stunning landscapes to TV viewers, including Pontypool Park and the Blaenavon World Heritage site.”

Cardiff Council cabinet member for culture, parks and events, councillor Jennifer Burke, said: “The city is always buzzing when a major sporting event is in town and with this being homegrown sporting legend Geraint Thomas’s final race – after a career that has seen him reach the very heights of world cycling, winning world championships, Olympic golds as well as claiming the famous yellow jersey – I’m sure the streets of his hometown will be lined with spectators cheering him, and all the other participants, on through those tough final miles.”

Tour of Britain final stage to feature route through South Wales

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