Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates has praised the Mayor and local council for their excellent work in welcoming the Tour of Britain cycling race to Newtown, which created a fantastic atmosphere as the race started its 93 mile stretch to Swansea.
The 2010 Tour of Britain is a 760-mile race around England and Wales, featuring some of Britain’s former Olympic champions. The Welsh leg of the tour, sponsored by Powys council, is 93 miles (150km) and started in Newtown, ending the day in Swansea. It is the first time the race has been staged in Wales for six years.
Mick Bates AM was in Newtown for the start of the race. Commenting on the event, Mick stated:
“I’m delighted to see Newtown host this prestigious event, which has created a fantastic atmosphere in the town. I congratulate the Mayor and Town Council for their excellent work in welcoming the race here and thank Powys County Council and Visit Wales for their financial support for the event.
“I really enjoyed seeing the Tour of Britain start its 93 mile stretch from Newtown to Swansea. There were lots of people lining the streets and local schools came out to support the event and join in the excitement.
“The importance of such events to Wales cannot be underestimated, as they provide a fantastic opportunity to promote our beautiful and diverse country, encouraging visitors and supporting tourism and the economy and I hope that we will see the Tour of Britain in Montgomeryshire again.”
