Cardiff, August 23, 2024, The Europe Today: Organizers of the Junior Tour of Wales have announced significant changes to the cycling race due to the newly implemented 20mph default speed limit in Wales. The race, which begins on Friday, has had three of its five stages altered to ensure the safety of participants, as support vehicles would be unable to keep pace with the cyclists without exceeding the speed limit.
The race’s finish, originally planned for Nantgaredig in Carmarthenshire—home to three-time Olympic cycling medallist Emma Finucane—has also been relocated.
Richard Hopkins, the race organizer, expressed frustration with the changes, stating, “A Welsh government scheme designed to enable cycle races to manage race and public safety through 20mph zones has failed, leaving us with a major problem. Even though there was only seven miles of 20mph across the whole 237-mile, four-day race, and even then split into a number of very short sections, we couldn’t guarantee to manage all of them safely.”
Hopkins further explained that while speed limits do not apply to cyclists, safety and support vehicles would struggle to keep up with the riders under the new restrictions.
The Junior Tour of Wales, an annual event since 1981, has seen notable past participants such as former Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas and double mountain bike gold medallist Tom Pidcock. This year, 100 riders will start the race in Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent, on Friday, passing through Powys and Pembrey Country Park in Carmarthenshire over the weekend, before concluding with a final stage in Monmouthshire on Monday.
Hopkins acknowledged that some riders may be disappointed by the changes, which have altered the race’s character, including the loss of the stage finish in Nantgaredig and the climb of the Black Mountain in Carmarthenshire. “It’s massively demoralizing, after putting so much effort into trying to make the race as a whole viable, and it also leaves me wondering what’s going to happen next,” he said.
The impact of the changes has been felt locally as well. Melanie Phillips-Rees, the landlady of the Railway Hotel in Nantgaredig, lamented the loss of the race’s usual route. “It’s disappointing that the race will not be able to follow its usual route as it has always been an attraction that has drawn attention and support from the local community,” she said. “We have a number of aspiring young cyclists in the area, and the completion of the race here allows them to witness an amazing event firsthand—an opportunity that will now be missed.”
The Welsh government emphasized that safety remains the top priority for any race. “The introduction of 20mph does not change this position. We have worked with the race organizers to develop various options to ensure the race can go ahead,” a government spokesperson said.
Welsh Cycling, while supporting the lowered speed limit for improving road safety, acknowledged the challenges it presents for organizing road races. Despite the setbacks, the race is set to proceed with the revised route, ensuring the safety of all participants and road users.
