THE biggest British cycling race will once again cut through Gwent later this year.

The Tour of Britain has passed through Wales in some way since 2010 and riders will race through the counties of Caerphilly, Torfaen and Monmouthshire on Thursday, September 8 on a 205km route from Aberdare to Bath.

The fifth stage of the tour will run close to Cwmbran and Usk before cutting through the Wye Valley and then into Gloucestershire.

It last passed through Gwent in 2014, when it entered Monmouthshire at Llanwenarth and then completed a stage on the Tumble, between Govilon and Blaenavon.

Racers also rode through Blackwood and finished in Caerphilly in 2013.

Further details will be announced in the summer.

The Welsh Government’s deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism Ken Skates said: "We're looking forward to hosting the Tour Britain again this year and thrilled that some new venues and locations will get a taste of the action. The Tour of Britain is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase Wales' unique and beautiful landscape to the world, as well as highlighting our ability to host a variety of major events."  

The Tour of Britain’s race director Mick Bennett said: "The stage route south through the heart of Wales will use a lot of roads previously unvisited by the Tour of Britain in the Cambrian Mountains including a great deal of climbing, before a flat run in along the Wye Valley to the finish on the Royal Welsh Showground, which will see an intriguing battle between the teams of the sprinters and overall contenders.

"We are pleased to be returning to South Wales with this year's Tour of Britain and a new start venue in Aberdare before the race heads across the country taking in many new towns and villages in an area renown for its cycling passion.”

The Tour of Britain will begin in Glasgow on Sunday, September 4 and finish in London on Sunday, September 11.