TOUR de Gwent 2016 sponsors gathered for a briefing on the event at St David’s Hospice Care day centre in Newport.

The 77-mile Tour de Gwent cycling challenge, which is staged aid of St David’s Hospice Care, will be held on Sunday, April 17.

The event starts and finishes at Caerleon Cricket Pavilion and sees riders tackle one of three circular routes of 77, 37.5 or 20.5 mile, which wind around roads and lanes in Newport, Torfaen and mostly in Monmouthshire. Organisers are looking to reach a target of signing up 700 riders for the 2016 event.

Tour de Gwent 2016 lead sponsors are Whitehead Building Services, of Newport.

Keen cyclist Rhys Morton, managing director of Whitehead, said: “The exciting and challenging event is staged in one of the most beautiful and scenic parts of Wales. Even so we have changed the route slightly for 2016 to ensure that we take in as many of the iconic sights in and around the Wye and Usk Valleys along the way, such as Tintern Abbey, to make the event as memorable and enjoyable for cyclists as well as supporters.

“Whitehead has had a long association with St David’s Hospice Care, which we are delighted to continue. A number of our 150 staff will be involved in the Tour de Gwent on the day from riding the route to helping out as marshals.”

Organiser Franca Nigro, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “We’re thrilled to have been able to once more attract such wonderful support from Whitehead Building Services as well as the other sponsors.”

The longest route takes riders through New Inn, Usk, up to Llantilio Crosenny across to Rockfield and then down through Tintern, Trellech and on the A449 back to Caerleon.

The shortest route goes from Caerleon to Llanbadoc and back. While the middle route takes you to Llanhennock, New Inn, Glascoed, Usk, Raglan and then back to Caerleon.

The challenge is to complete your chosen course within three to 10 hours and arrive back at the finish village at Caerleon Cricket Pavilion in time to enjoy the BBQ, refreshments, live music, entertainment and stalls.

The minimum age for entrants is 16-years and registration is now open. The entry fee is £50 which includes an exclusive event cycling ‘sport cut’ jersey, route maps, water and feeding stations and a finish BBQ.

Tour de Gwent 2016 sponsors are: Whitehead, EOS Architects, Kymin, Hutchings and Thomas Chartered Surveyors, Advantage Accountancy, G2A Energy, HAASCO Accountants, MCL Logistics, Mon Motors, PSM Sportswear, County Marquees, CNC Property, Protectorcomms Ltd, Dragon Air Conditioning and Euan Designs.

To register and get more details of the route visit www.tourdegwent.org or call 01633 851051.