Cycling fever will spread from the Tour de France to South Wales on Sunday as thousands of riders gear up for Velothon Wales.

Here’s everything you need to know before Sunday's big event:

What time will it start?

Riders taking on the gruelling 140km course can begin loading into their specified start pen from 6.30am, before the first wave kick things off at 7am.

The final group to get going through the streets of Cardiff will be the Velothon 125 riders, who begin their journey just after 8.30am.

The point-to-point race departs Usk at 10am before joining up with the other riders.

What’s the route?

The Velothon 140KM route starts and finishes in the heart of Cardiff, taking in some of Wales’ most breath-taking scenery.

Riders will leave Cardiff to the east, heading through Newport and Usk, before entering the Brecon Beacons National Park, home of the legendary Tumble climb.

The route then heads south via Pontypool and Newbridge on its way to Caerphilly for one final climb up the stunning Caerphilly Mountain, before finishing with a fast descent towards the finish line, in the heart of Cardiff city centre.

Riders can soak in the atmosphere of the event without worrying about the Tumble climb on the Velothon 125.

The total climb is reduced by 400 metres before a grandstand finish along the iconic King Edward VII Avenue - finish line to the 2017 Tour of Britain.

The point-to-point route, starts in Usk with a route travelling south towards Pontypool and the challenging Caerphilly Mountain, before a fast descent towards the Welsh capital and a grandstand finish on King Edward VII Avenue.

What will the weather be like?

Temperatures in South Wales are set to rise from 18 to 27 degrees Celsius during the event.

There are plenty of feed and water stations along the route and an extra water station has been added at the summit of the Tumble.

Where is the Event Village?

The event village is in the heart of Cardiff city centre on the lawns outside City Hall, and will be at the centre of the action.

What else is going on?

The Event Village has something for every cyclist and supporter.

There is plenty to satisfy the taste buds with street food and drinks from:

•OMG catering- Airstream bar offering a wide range of beers, wine and spirits.

•Dusty Knuckle Pizza - Wood fired oven pizza company voted number one in the UK by the Guardian

•Bryn Farm - Hot locally sourced food freshly cooked on BBQ

•The Thirsty Elephant - A unique VW coffee van, serving speciality coffee, hot chocolate, teas, soft drinks and home-made brownies

•Mrs Softee Ice Cream – Traditional Ice cream Van selling variety of ice creams and soft drinks

•Fritti Italian – delicious southern Italian street food

A wide variety of stands will be offering a range of products and information for all ages, and don’t forget to look out for the cyclist on stilts! Stands include Enervit, BMW Sytner, British Bike Hire , Cambrian Tyres, Primal, City Hospice, Black Mountain Bikes, Go Safe, Pro Vision, and Rollapaluza.

What do I need at the start?

Riders will need their bike plate, race number and timing flag which have been sent out in advance.

Participants are being urged to make sure their water bottles are full before they set off. Snacks will also be important for those heading out in the first waves.

Will there be food and drinks available on the way round?

Yes, at:

• Usk, Maryport Street (63.86km from start)

• Little Mill (125/60km only) (78km)

• Pontnewynydd (140km only) (98.64km)

• Top of Caerphilly Mountain (127.70km)

• EXTRA: Top of Tumble (140 only)

Where can I park on race day?

Three official park and cycle Cardiff car parks (for 140 and 125KM riders) are available to pre-book. These will open at 5am on event day and cost £7.50, with one booking required per car.

For the 60km event, riders being dropped off should aim to park at Usk School (Usk, NP15 1BT).

This will be open from 8am to12pm, so should not be used by people taking part in the ride.

All day parking for riders, is available at Usk Castle (Monmouth Road, Usk, NP15 1ST).

This car park will be open from 8am to 7pm.

Will there be road closures?

Road closures have been significantly reduced at this year’s event but a rolling closure is still in place around the route. See map below for details:

South Wales Argus:

 

Where can I leave my bike and baggage?

There will be a bag drop located in the event village which opens at 6am and closes at 8pm on Sunday.

Attached to the bottom of every race number is a bag drop band, which can be removed from the race number and attached to any baggage you wish to leave in the bag drop area. In order to reclaim a bag, participants must present their race number.

A free, secure bike park is available from the same times in the Event Village to allow riders to relax knowing their bike is safe.

Where are the best places to watch?

Cardiff will again be at the heart of the action with the start/finish area located on King Edward VII Avenue as well as the buzzing Event Village on City Hall Lawns.

Usk have once again decked their picturesque town with their own cycling themed creations to give riders and supporters an eye catching welcome. Usk also hosts the start of the new 60km point to point ride and is easily accessible by car.

Blaenavon have followed Usk’s lead to make their historic town centre a cycling hub. Nine local businesses have taken part in a competition to create their own Velothon Wales artworks, which have been displayed proudly in their shop windows.

Caerphilly Mountain is the last significant climb on all three routes. Supporters can roar their loved ones on from the roadside or welcome them back down as they descend past Caerphilly Castle.

Is there a Velothon Wales App?

Yes. Every rider can be followed along the course by downloading the Run 4 Wales app, available on iOS and Android.

*The South Wales Argus will be running a live blog around the event on Sunday. To get involved with the coverage, and send us your pictures and videos, use the hashtag #VelothonWales on Twitter