Anglesey start for this year's Friends Life Tour of Britain?

This year's edition of the Friends Life Tour of Britain looks set to start in Beaumaris on the island of Anglesey in North Wales this September, with Wrexham hosting the finish of the opening stage of the race, which runs from 6-13 September.

Proposed details of Stage 1 of the race were included in a report discussed at a meeting of Wrexham County Borough Council’s executive board yesterday, when councillors voted unanimously to meet the £40,000 cost of being the arrival town.

The report, from the council’s lead member for economic development and regeneration, Councillor Neil Rogers, said it had “been agreed that North Wales will host the opening stage of the Tour of Britain in 2015 on Sunday 6 September.”

It added that “the preferred location for the start is in Anglesey and the finish in Wrexham,” with the planned route passing through Llanberis, Betwys y Coed, Ruthin, Denbigh and Mold.

Wrexham featured on the route of Stage 2 of last year’s race, from Knowsley to Llandudno, and 12 months earlier was included on Stage 4 from Stoke-on-Trent to Llanberis.

Last September’s stage, won by Omega Pharma-Quick Step's Mark Renshaw, was watched in person by 110,000 people and brought gross visitor spend of £3.4 million to North Wales.

Councillor Rogers, quoted on Wrexham.com, said: “I think this is a good story, it showcases Wrexham. This is an opportunity to show what Wrexham has to offer.”

While Anglesey Council has provided £5,000 in each of the past two years to help bring the race to North Wales, this would be the first time the island has hosted the race should details of the route be confirmed.