Tour de France ‘presents a huge opportunity for us as residents and businesses in the borough’

Gareth Jones is the founder and CEO of Caerphilly-based business start-up hub TownSq.

The news that the Tour de France will pass through Caerphilly town is something to really celebrate. To have the privilege of hosting this famous, historic competition in our town is something we should all be getting excited about.

It presents a huge opportunity for us as residents and businesses in the borough to capitalise on. All of the eyes will be on Caerphilly, hosting the final climbs of the Grand Départ after three gruelling days taking Le Tour from Edinburgh to Carlisle, Keswick to Liverpool, and then Welshpool to Cardiff. 

The Welsh leg is going to be the toughest test for the men’s and women’s riders, with the highest peaks, the most demanding terrain, and the joint longest stage. 

Sponsors of the Tour claim it has an audience of 4bn people, which is quite heavily disputed, but the idea of the splendour of our fantastic castle and landscape being broadcasted into hundreds of millions of homes across the world is really quite exciting. Add to that the millions of people who make the pilgrimage to spectate in person, all help to make the case that we’re about to host a world-class event. 

Of course, it’s not just the day itself; there will be a lot of attention in the build up to the event as amateurs try to test themselves on the official route, and it’s our job to give them reasons to stop off and spend their time and money in our shops, cafes, and restaurants. 

One in ten people in Wales cycle at least once a month, according to the Welsh Government’s Active Travel Board data, so even giving locals and neighbouring residents an excuse to get out there on their bike gives us an excuse to convince them to visit the borough.

Caerphilly should undoubtedly be seen as one of the highlights of this trip, and I can’t imagine many finer spots to watch something like this than from the walkway around the castle, with a cocktail on the balcony at Rosita’s, enjoying lunch in the window of Portofino’s, or waving on the final climb with a burger on the mountain. 

We also have a great track record of creating events that take over the town, from the Food and Drink Festival and Pride, to the Cheese Festival and Christmas Markets. These events regularly draw tens of thousands of visitors, which gives the high street something that many other town centres could only dream of. Caerphilly has a knack and reputation for creating events that serve the local community and give people a good reason to come and visit. 

I hope in the next 18 months we see plans develop for a fan zone, and offer supporters and spectators of the Tour de France a home to celebrate the occasion and make Caerphilly their highlight of the Tour’s visit to Britain. 

As a closely knit community of businesses, I expect the whole borough to come together to create resources, materials and campaigns to promote what we all have to offer to visitors and local residents alike, taking a fresh look at Caerphilly. I know that the Caerphilly Business Club, Visit Caerphilly, and communities like Ffos Caerffili will do everything in their power to make the most of this gift. 

Probably more important than anything else is the fact that so many of us can walk with our families to see this event on our doorsteps. There are going to be kids living on Hengoed Road and Pen-y-Bryn Terrace who can watch this spectacle from their own bedroom windows. I think most of us can get over a day of road closures for such a significant opportunity to offer kids a moment to dream of one day leading the peloton themselves.