Wales cycling tourism gets £4.5m boost ahead of Tour de France Grand Départ
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
Wales is investing £4.5 million in cycling tourism ahead of the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2027, with funding supporting cycling hubs, bike hire, trail improvements and e-bike charging facilities.
A total of £3.19 million has been awarded to 54 projects through the Croeso i Feicwyr programme, with a further £1.3 million available through a new Business Ready Fund.
Projects include a £100,000 upgrade to Holyhead’s Gateway Coastal Cycling Route, while £100,000 will create a network of cycling hubs across Welshpool, Newtown, Machynlleth, Llandrindod Wells and Llanfyllin.
The North Powys hubs will include cycle parking, repair stations, bike-wash facilities, e-bike charging and visitor information, while other projects will support new bike hire facilities and cycling hubs in communities across Wales.
In South Wales, £64,800 will support the King of the Mountains Tour Circuit, with bilingual markers planned for challenging climbs including Epynt, Rhigos, Penrhys and Maerdy.
Other projects include e-bike charging stations and secure cycle lockers in Cardiff, as well as improvements to the Ystwyth Trail.
The investment could potentially benefit independent retail businesses as increased cycling provision and tourism bring more visitors to communities, both through direct opportunities linked to cycling and indirectly through increased footfall and spending in local areas.
Wales will also mark 2027 as the Year of Cycling, with Visit Wales planning a major campaign and interactive mapping tool bringing together cycling routes and destinations across the country.
The Welsh Government said the investment would help prepare Wales for the Grand Départ and support the development of cycling tourism across the country.