WALES biggest new cycling star will take on one of the nation's biggest races when the Grand Prix of Wales returns to Monmouthshire on Sunday, August 9.

Scott Davies has been predicted as a future Tour de France rider to follow in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe.

And he has the chance to test himself out against some of the best British riders in the Grand Prix of Wales.

The 19-year-old from Carmarthen won the men’s under-23 national time trial title at Celtic Manor last summer and was fourth in the under-23 national road race in Abergavenny.

He also rode in the same Commonwealth Games road race that was won by Thomas in Glasgow, battling through torrential rain to finish a brilliant tenth.

Now Davies will be back on the streets of Monmouthshire with his 100% ME teammates to ride the Grand Prix of Wales, which is part of the culmination of the Abergavenny Festival of Cycling and a leg of the British Cycling Elite Road Series.

The road race, which covers 113 miles of Monmouthshire, will be one of the biggest cycling competitive events in Wales this year with 149 riders set to be on the start line in Abergavenny on August 9.

One of those will be Kristian House, who is extremely familiar with the course as he rode over it to claim the national road race crown in 2009 – beating Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Mark Cavendish and Thomas.

“The cycling around that area is unbelievable,” said House. “Between all the little lanes and climbs and with very little traffic compared to a lot of Britain, it really makes for a good place to ride your bike.

"On top of that the Welsh are incredibly supportive of the sport. I can remember looking at photos of the day I won and it looked like it could of been anywhere in Europe with the amount of people cheering on the roads.

"Winning the National Championships in 2009 pretty much ranks as number one in my career. I had that jersey in my sights from when I was a junior, and there is not much I can do in my career now that will top that day.”

The Grand Prix of Wales takes in a route from Abergavenny to pass Raglan, then two visits to Monmouth while on a big lap around north Monmouthshire, which leads them to the final finishing laps near the starting point and a final sprint up to the chequered flag in Abergavenny town centre.

For more information about the Grand Prix of Wales and the whole week of races and entertainment at the Abergavenny Festival of Cycling visit abergavennyfestivalofcycling.co.uk.