THE sun shone on the thousands of cyclists and spectators who attended the first Velothon Wales on Sunday. The 140 km pro-race route and 50 km sportive route both started and finished in Cardiff City Centre, and covered the beautiful terrain of these valleys winding through Newport, Usk, the Brecon Beacons, Pontypool and Caerphilly.

15,000 cyclists participated in the event and raised an estimated £300,000 for charities.

I was disappointed to hear reports of tacks being scattered along isolated sections of the route, which resulted in a number of punctures and a few nasty injuries. Wales is a welcoming nation and such reckless, selfish behaviour is unbecoming of members of our community. Stewards worked quickly to clear the affected area and the event has not been overshadowed by the actions of the perpetrators.

There has been widespread criticisms of the organisers, who faced the difficult challenge of delivering a safe and successful event with as little disruption as possible. Events of this size will inevitably involve disruption, although on this occasion, the information and guidance provided to residents and businesses left a lot to be desired. Organisers must work with local stakeholders to ensure that road closures and alternative routes are clearly publicised well in advance of race day, and to maximise the event’s benefits to the towns and villages along the route.

Sunday’s event was the first of three annual Velothon Wales events although I am hopefully that their success will lead to the establishment of Wales as a regular Velothon host for many years to come. This is a fantastic opportunity for Wales to cement its reputation as a major sporting host as well as providing a platform to showcase the outstanding natural beauty of South East Wales to cycling fans and tourists alike.

Furthermore, I hope Velothon Wales has inspired residents young and old to get on their bikes.

The Welsh Government has invested £5 million to promote cycling and create safe walking and cycling routes across Wales.