WITH the arrival of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour now just days away, people are being encouraged to come out in force to line the streets and give the cyclists a warm Welsh welcome.

The Tour is the UK’s biggest professional cycling road race and will see 96 cyclists racing through 126km of Carmarthenshire’s streets, mountains and valleys, with a support convoy of 60 vehicles and a helicopter providing TV highlights across the world.

It will start at 10am on Saturday, June 15, at Carmarthen Velodrome, moving through Abergwili, Nantgaredig, Brechfa, Llansawel, Ffairfach, Bethlehem, Felindre, Brynamman, Garnant, Glanamman, Ammanford, Capel Hendre, Penygroes, Gorslas, Cefneithin, Pontyberem, Ponthenri, Carway, Trimsaran, and Pinged, before ending at Pembrey Country Park at approximately 1pm.

A full race guide, with expected arrival times across the county, information about parking locations, road closures and transport disruptions, can be found in the Newsroom at www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales.

The Women’s Tour kicked off in Suffolk on Monday (June 10), and will take place over a gruelling six days, coming to its grand finale in Carmarthenshire on Saturday.

It is the first time Carmarthenshire has welcomed the Women’s Tour, following just months behind the hugely successful men’s OVO Energy Tour of Britain in September.

The county is still reaping the rewards of its successful hosting of the event, with almost a quarter of the expected £4million economic boost for a year coming in the first 48-hours of the race.

Cycling businesses, as well as the retail, tourism and hospitality sectors, have seen the biggest boost in trade with more people visiting Carmarthenshire to experience the tracks, circuits and roads that have tested the best cyclists in the world, including Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas.

In the lead up to Saturday’s grand finale, communities have been decorated with bunting and green bikes, shops and cafes have dressed their windows, and a host of family activities have been organised in key locations, including Llandeilo, Ammanford and Pembrey Country Park.

A full list of activities, as well as competitions, and information about places to stay and cycling routes, can be found at www.discovercarmarthenshire.com.

Car parking is free in council-run car parks in Carmarthen and Ammanford.

Visitors are encouraged to plan their day and arrive at their preferred viewing location at least an hour before the race is due to arrive.

Rolling road closures will be in place across the route, around 30 mins ahead of the race and 15 minutes behind it. Advanced warning signs are in place across the route.