The race director: Mick Bennett (Tour of Britain)

Wales has become a fixture of the Tour of Britain in recent years, with Caerphilly Mountain a regular feature of recent editions. This year was no different with crowds packing the route as Sam Bennett (An Post Chain Reaction) earned the biggest victory of his career to date. North Wales also featured this year, with a stage finish in Llanberis too, and Tour director Mick Bennett told us the principality was a crucial part of the route.

He said: “The Welsh stages were very successful, and we never had any doubt that they wouldn’t be.

“The Tour has received great support in mid and South Wales over the past editions, and we knew of the appetite for the event in North Wales and Snowdonia, as did our partners at the Welsh Government.

“It is very important for The Tour of Britain. The Tour cannot just take place in England each year, so stages in Wales and/or Scotland each year help take the race to different parts of the UK.

“In the past few years the Welsh stages have also provided us with some tough, and iconic climbs, such as Constitution Hill and Caerphilly Mountain.

“It’s definitely the spectators and the atmosphere that give Caerphilly Mountain the Tour de France feel. It is thanks also to Caerphilly County Borough Council who close the road in advance of the race, allowing so many people to fill the roads and experience the race on a major climb.

“It was known to us from past events and races, so when the opportunity to finish outside Caerphilly Castle came up, it was a great chance to incorporate a tough, final climb close to the race finish.

“It is not often in the UK that you get such a spectacular climb within what is to all intents and purposes an urban setting, as it allows spectators on the Mountain to still visit the finish village, podium ceremonies etc.”