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The Tour of Britain cycle race is returning to Caerphilly town – almost a decade after it was scrapped because of council budget cuts.

The eighth and final stage of the tour will start in Margam Country Park on Sunday September 10 with more than 100 of the world’s best riders crossing the finish line in Caerphilly town.

The grand finale to the race will see riders take on the climb Caerphilly Mountain for the first time since 2013. This will be Caerphilly’s fourth time as a stage finish – but its first as the race’s final stage. The tour last visited the county borough in 2016 when stage five of that year’s race passed through.

According to previous council reports, hosting the stage finish in 2011 was worth an estimated £300,000 to Caerphilly town’s economy.

However, Caerphilly County Borough Council pulled out of hosting a stage finish in 2014 because of the £51,000 cost associated with it.

This year the Welsh Government is providing financial support to host the stage, in addition to Caerphilly Council securing £30,000 from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

The support is part of an agreement unveiled in 2022 that will see the Tour of Britain and its sister race, the Women’s Tour, each visit the country in alternate years through to 2026.

Dawn Bowden, Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, said: “Wales’ credentials for hosting cycling events is now well-established.

“The Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour are the perfect showcase for our landscape as well as the welcome we provide to the competitors and spectators.”

Councillor Sean Morgan, leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, said he was sure that residents and businesses would welcome the return of the event to the town.

He said: “The magnificent backdrop of Caerphilly Castle will provide a spectacular setting as the riders cross the finishing line – especially after tackling the gruelling Caerphilly Mountain climb.”

According to race organisers, an estimated 10,000 spectators lined the route of the double-ascent mountain climb in 2013.

Mick Bennett, Tour of Britain race director, said: “Together with the Welsh Government we wanted to design a stage that would combine sporting drama with visiting new areas of the country for the Tour of Britain, and, of course, including the climbs that south Wales is famous for.”

This year’s Tour of Britain will begin in Greater Manchester on Sunday September 3. The world’s best riders will also visit north Wales on stage two, which takes place in Wrexham. East Riding of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk and Essex will all feature before the much-anticipated finale in south Wales.

More details of this year’s race, which will be broadcast live on ITV4, including full stage routes and competing teams, will be announced in the coming weeks.