Thousands of people lined the route of the Tour of Britain through Usk, Monmouth and Abergavenny to the Blorenge mountain yesterday to see riders like Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish. CARYS THOMAS reports.

CROWDS gathered to see cycling stars including Sir Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and Newport’s Jon Mould take part in the Tour of Britain across Monmouthshire yesterday.

The county hosted the third stage of the UK’s biggest professional cycle race which saw world class riders climb the Tumble, starting from Govilon near Abergavenny and ending at the summit of the Blorenge mountain overlooking the Vale of Usk and the Black Mountains.

The Tumble is well-known in the cycling world as one of the toughest ascents in the UK with a 6km climb over a steady gradient of 10 per cent. The cycling event attracted 1.5 million spectators last year and takes world class riders around the country in an eight stage race, culminating in a time trial and circuit race through the streets of London.

Stage three saw riders cycle through Abergavenny on the A40 past Frogmore Street where around 100 people stood to watch and cheer as the went by.

Maria Rose, Year 5 teacher at Our Lady and St Michael’s Primary School, said: “All 24 children from my class are here to cheer on the cyclists as they go past. We thought we’d come down as it’s on our doorstep.

“The children made posters of encouragement for the cyclist. They are loving it as a lot of them are really into cycling and are so excited to see the riders.”

Evelyn Higgins-Worrale, a Year 5 pupil from Our Lady and St Michael’s, said: “I cycle with the Abergavenny Road Club – it’s a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to seeing Bradley Wiggins.”

Tyler Richards, nine, said: “We are here to cheer Team Sky.”

Many amateur riders from across the county rode the same route that the Tour of Britain stars took yesterday including members of the Pontypool Road Cycling Club. Nick Hughes, 28, Mark Plumley, 47, and Dax Jenkins, 38, all took part in the ride to the Tumble.

Mr Jenkins, president of the Pontypool Road Cycling Club, said: “It is great fun. We’re off to ride the Tumble but we won’t be going as quick as these guys.”

Paul Willis, an IT salesman from Portskewett, said: “It’s a great spectacle. It is marvellous to see the cyclist.

“I rode here from Mahmilad and am going to try the tumble now. I saw the British Championships when they were near Chepstow this year as well.”

The cyclists then went on to Monmouth and Llanfair Kilgeddin before taking on the Tumble in Abergavenny.

Daphne Webster, St Helen’s Road, Abergavenny, said: “It’s a great event for Abergavenny, it really puts us on the map.”

Cllr Martin Hickman, mayor of Abergavenny, said: “This is massive for Abergavenny and for Monmouthshire. It really puts us on the map again after the last cycling weekend.”

Abergavenny’s annual cycling festival also attracts thousands of visitors and top-class riders to the town.