Aberystweth - Llanelli (WT)   

The rolling hills of Wales are the scenery for this World Tour race from Aberystweth to Llanelli. Starting next to Aberystweth Castle, the peloton is treated to an almost immediate climb along Penglais Road, providing the first test for the hill specialists. Things get serious at Tal-y-bont, after just 13 kilometers of racing, where the longest climb of the day, towards Nant-Y-Moch Reservoir, breaks up the peloton for the firs...

Read more

The rolling hills of Wales are the scenery for this World Tour race from Aberystweth to Llanelli. Starting next to Aberystweth Castle, the peloton is treated to an almost immediate climb along Penglais Road, providing the first test for the hill specialists. Things get serious at Tal-y-bont, after just 13 kilometers of racing, where the longest climb of the day, towards Nant-Y-Moch Reservoir, breaks up the peloton for the first time.

From there, the hilly terrain takes the riders through Ponterwyd to Pontarfynach, where two steep climbs welcome the pack. Reaching the top in Ysbyty Ystwyth the road turns south in a fairly flat manner towards Tregaron, where the climb to Esgair Gelli features stretches above 15%. Descending along Devil’s Staircase to Llanwrtyd Wells and Llandovery, the favourites prepare for the finale, which begins in all earnestness at the crossing of the Afon Sawdde river near Llangadog.

Here lies Black Mountain, a climb of over 7 kilometers, which represents the main difficulty of the race. After a long descent the leading riders reach Ammanford, from where it will be just over 20 kilometers of mostly flat terrain. Mostly flat, because the puncheurs will have one final chance to shake off their competitors, at Llangennech hill, 6 kilometers from the finish line on Station Road in Llanelli.