Powys will take centre stage in elite cycling this summer after being confirmed as one of the host areas for the 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain Women.

The county will welcome stage four of the race on Saturday, August 22, with riders tackling a route from Llanidloes to Hay-on-Wye as part of a two-day Welsh double-header.

The announcement confirms Wales will host stages three and four of the UCI Women’s WorldTour event, which runs from Friday, August 21 to Saturday, August 22, bringing world-class cycling back to the region.

Stage three will start in Mold and finish at The Great Orme in Llandudno, while the following day’s stage will see the peloton roll out from Llanidloes before heading through the heart of Powys towards the book town of Hay-on-Wye.

Powys has a strong history with the Tour of Britain, having previously hosted stages of both the men’s and women’s events.

Councillor Glyn Preston, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, said: “We are incredibly proud to welcome stage four of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women to Powys. It is a huge honour and gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase our beautiful county and bring economic benefits to our communities through increased tourism.

“With thousands of spectators expected and worldwide media coverage, it will be a boon for local businesses and the visitor economy, while also inspiring more people to get active and enjoy cycling.”

Jonathan Day, Director of Events for British Cycling Ventures, said the 2026 route would help create a “festival of cycling” across Wales and England.

“We are excited to be bringing the prestigious Lloyds Tour of Britain Women to these fantastic locations in August,” he said.

“For the first time, there is parity in the number of stages with the men’s race a few weeks later, so it is a huge opportunity to create a real festival of cycling, with the women’s race kick-starting a brilliant few weeks of elite racing.

“We are bringing new hosts and stages in Mold, Llanidloes, and Hay-on-Wye, and it is fantastic to return to previous hosts of the Tour in Cockermouth, Clitheroe, Blackpool, Llandudno and Leamington Spa, bringing real variety to the courses as we head across England and Wales.”

The 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain Women will begin in Cockermouth, which hosts both the start and finish of stage one, before stage two takes the riders from Clitheroe to Blackpool. The Welsh stages follow, with stage three running from Mold to The Great Orme in Llandudno and stage four travelling from Llanidloes to Hay-on-Wye, before the race concludes in Warwickshire with stage five starting and finishing in Royal Leamington Spa.

Those interested in volunteering at the event, can register their interest at: https://shorturl.at/z0oek

The announcement of the festivities this summer follows the news earlier this summer that Powys will also play a role in the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ, when Welshpool will host the start of a stage. The third stage will see riders leave Welshpool and make their way through Newtown, before following the A483 south through Llandrindod Wells. The race will then continue on to Builth Wells and Brecon, and into the surrounding Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The route will then leave Powys via Libanus, continuing on towards Cardiff.