A POPULAR cycling event will not return to Aberystwyth this year, council officials confirmed this afternoon.

After hosting six successful stages of the Tour Series cycle race, the organiser, Sweetspot, has informed Ceredigion County Council that the Pearl Izumi Tour Series will not be visiting Aberystwyth this year.

Ceredigion County Council has hosted the Aberystwyth stage of the Tour Series cycle event since 2015 with the support of Aberystwyth CycleFest, Aberystwyth Town Council, Aberystwyth University and Cambrian Tyres.

Following the success of previous Aberystwyth stages, the Council was again invited by Sweetspot to host the 2017 event and Ceredigion’s Cabinet agreed to do so.

Cllr Gareth Lloyd, Ceredigion Cabinet member with responsibility for Economic Development and Tourism, has expressed his disappointment at the decision.

He said: “Ceredigion County Council has been very supportive of the Tour Series event since it first visited Aberystwyth and has contributed generously to the delivery of an event that has brought thousands of spectators to the town every year.

"The council was fully committed to hosting the event again in 2017 and we were extremely disappointed to receive an email from Sweetspot on 1 March 2017 informing us that the Tour would not be visiting Aberystwyth this year after all, citing a new format to the 2017 event and changes to the route throughout the UK.

"We are now in discussion with the organisers of Aberystwyth CycleFest with a view to organising an alternative event to ensure that cycling enthusiasts in Mid Wales will not miss out on an opportunity to watch professional and top amateur riders compete in Aberystwyth again this year.”