TRADERS have accused local councillors of “wasting a huge opportunity” by not making the most of a major cycling event in the town.

On Sunday many of the world’s finest female cyclists started the fifth and final day of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour in Dolgellau before cycling through the Snowdonia National Park and finishing in Colwyn Bay.

Despite holding such a prestigious event in the town, which was anticipated to attract 5,000 attendees, shop-owners and residents said they were left “shocked and embarrassed” at the “paucity of spectators” in the town for the start of the race, with some even suggesting they had no idea the event was even taking place.

On the day, the crowd was under 1,000 people.

Race organisers, Sweetspot, have said that they were happy with how the stage went and the turnout in Dolgellau, saying: “Given the population of the town itself, we’re more than happy with the crowd.”

But they admitted: “Lessons can always be learnt and things improved for future editions of the race to (a) enhance the promotion/awareness of the race, (b) minimise any inconvenience and (c) improve the passage of the race through busy areas.”

Peter Barnes, who owns Draig Dipsy Dragon on Eldon Square, was greatly upset by what he saw as a lack of organisation around the event.

He said: “Whilst it is a great event in itself please don’t give the impression that the start was a great success; the real story is how disappointed and even furious the local shopkeepers and small businesses were with the totally shambolic way in which the county and town councils managed their end of the organisation.

“In short the event was a disaster for many in the town which it really shouldn’t have been."

Read the full story in today’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News