The controversial cycle race that angered many Monmouthshire residents last year is taking place this Sunday (22nd May).

The 140km Velothon Wales race will start at Cardiff and take around 18,000 cyclists through the county with stage four, five and six of the route affecting roads between Magor, Caerleon, Usk and Abergavenny.

Extensive road closures are being implemented to ensure the route is safe for the participants to navigate the route on traffic free roads. It was these road closures which restricted residents along the route last year and caused public uproar.

Velothon organiser Nigel Russell has already felt the wrath of those affected last year at a public meeting near Abergavenny where residents, who are unhappy that last year’s route is set to be repeated, said they felt "prisoners in their own homes".

One farmer said he was locked in for more than nine hours last year with others complaining that their movement rights were affected in favour of the cyclists.

Head of Velothon, Nigel Russell, said: “Roads will be permanently closed from 8.30am to 4pm with restrictions lifted for an hour at 12.30pm to allow residents to move around.”

Matt Newman, chief executive of Run 4 Wales, the local partner supporting Ironman in delivering Velothon Wales 2016, said: “Velothon Wales has quickly established itself as one of the must-do sportives in the UK thanks to its closed roads, challenging route and stunning scenery.

“Wales has a long history of staging world-class sporting events and despite only being in its second year, Velothon Wales is another sporting occasion we can be proud of.

“We want the benefits of Velothon Wales to be felt right across south Wales and with almost half of all entrants coming from elsewhere in the UK, we hope this will provide a welcome boost to businesses all along the route and the surrounding areas.”

Almost half (48 per cent) of those who have registered for this year’s event will be travelling to Wales from elsewhere in the UK, giving a boost to hotels, restaurants and leisure services in the five local authority areas involved along the route, including Monmouthshire.

Riders have signed up from the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to cycle on completely closed roads and alongside a UCI sanctioned professional road race.

Organisers have been working hard behind the scenes to avoid the bad feeling and protests. Last year tin tacks were discovered on two sections of the route last year forcing cyclists to carry their bikes for a short distance.

For more information about the race, visit: www.velothon-wales.co.uk