POWYS will host its first ever stage finish as Wales once again hosts Britain’s premier road cycling event, the Tour of Britain.

Denbigh will begin proceedings as Denbighshire hosts its first ever stage start on the morning of the September 7, before Stage Four heads through Flintshire and on to Powys, for the first ever stage finish in the county at the Royal Welsh Showground.

A day later Stage Five will re-start from Aberdare in Rhondda Cynon Taf, a new venue for the Tour of Britain. That stage will cross South Wales, finishing in Bath.

Welsh Government, 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 spectators in Wales have always given the cyclists a real warm Welsh welcome and have created a fantastic atmosphere, I hope that people from across Wales come out to support the event again this year. Being a part of an event such as this can really inspire people to want to take up the sport and 2016 being Wales’ Year of Adventure gives the perfect opportunity to plan some two-wheeled adventures in Wales.”

Wales has hosted stages of the Tour of Britain annually since 2010, with last year’s event beginning overall in the country, on Anglesey.

Powys hosted a stage start of the Tour of Britain annually from 2010 to 2014, but this year will mark the first time a stage has finished in the county.

Cllr Avril York, Powys County Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: "I’m delighted that this fantastic sporting spectacle is returning to Powys – the green heart of Wales. We have been proud to host five Tour of Britain starts since 2010 but to have a stage finish in the county for the first time is truly exciting.

"Not only will this attract thousands of people, hosting a stage finish will give the area a huge economic boost. We’re looking forward to making this a memorable occasion for all and I’m sure our county will once again warmly welcome the race when it returns in the autumn.”

Further details of the routes of both stages will be announced in the early summer.

Tour of Britain race director Mick Bennett said: "We have worked with our partners at Denbighshire and Powys Councils over the past year’s to ensure that we can bring a start and a finish to each respectively for the first time in the history of the modern Tour of Britain. Both councils have supported the Tour of Britain in the past so we are pleased to be able to link the two with a new route.

"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.”

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

Jonny Clay, British Cycling director of cycle sport and membership, said: "We are proud to announce the 2016 route for Britain’s national tour. Every year the Tour of Britain offers a chance for the public to see some of the world’s best road riders racing through their local area. Last year’s race had a bit of everything; fast flat sections, rolling roads and a great hill top finish which led to exciting racing for the competitors and fans alike. .This year’s route has all the same ingredients, so promises to be a great event.”

For the fifth successive year fans can look forward to enjoying daily live coverage of all eight stages on ITV4, with the channel broadcasting a three-hour live programme from each stage, plus one-hour of highlights every evening during the race.

Chain Reaction Cycles continue their partnership with the race and sponsorship of the Chain Reaction Cycles Points Classification, won in 2015 by Team WIGGIN’s Owain Doull, while UK parcel carrier Yodel will continue to sponsor the daily intermediate YodelDirect Sprints classification, which Peter Williams of ONE Pro Cycling won last September.

SKODA remain official car suppliers and sponsors of the King of the Mountains jersey, also won by Williams in 2015.