FRUSTRATED residents from across Gwent have slammed the “gridlock” caused by the Velothon Wales on Sunday.

The cycling race, now in its second year, attracted 12,000 riders, in a route crossing Newport, Monmouthshire, Torfaen and Caerphilly.

The reaction from spectators on the day was generally positive, but widespread road closures affected communities and businesses, some said yesterday, with diverted traffic building up in residential areas.

Parts of Ynysddu, in Caerphilly county borough, were blighted by traffic due to closures on the B4251.

Pontgam Terrace resident Colin Durham said there were streams of cars in both directions, trying to navigate parked vehicles.

“This is a narrow road and there is barely sufficient space for passing when there are vehicles parked along the length of the terraced stretches," he said.

"We living in this area have become virtual prisoners.

“Even if we had wanted to go out southbound it would have been impractical with the quantity of vehicles using this small lane as a main road.”

Gareth Meredith, who owns Wellhouse Service Station repair centre, said that the volume of traffic in Ynysddu spanned 10am to 7.30pm, and said there was a lack of communication from the organisers.

“I'm always the first to support sports but this event has a lot of chaos that goes along with it," he added.

“Residents were up in arms around here and it’s unbelievable that one event can cause so much chaos.”

Newport business owner Uday Patel, 56, claims he received conflicting information about Nash Road closures.

“I rang Velothon organisers on four different occasions they said that the road was open at different times, from 6.15am to 7.20am, and 10.35am to 1.15pm.

“But when it came to those times the marshals would not allow people to come through.

“One of my customers who is 80-years-old had to walk about a mile to the shop.”

John Smithing, of Pontypool, also said he was unable to attend a business meeting in Blackwood as he was unaware that the A4043 and A472 were closed.

“No information had been provided to me as a resident and I ended up spending an hour fruitlessly driving around Pontypool in the vain attempt to find a way out," he added.

But, speaking on the day of the race, Pontypool resident Grainne Mansfield, said she believed communication with residents had improved considerably since last year.

“It has been advertised better this year and people seem to feel better about that,” she added.

And, in a statement released on Sunday, a Velothon spokesman stated the initial feedback has been “overwhelmingly positive”.

He added: “Increased communication to residents and businesses prior to the event helped to reduce disruption on the day. 

“We will continue to make improvements to all aspects of the race for next year and we are already looking forward to the third Velothon Wales in 2017.”