MORE than 6,000 people lined the streets for the Abergavenny Festival of Cycling at the weekend.

Organisers have hailed the event a success after thousands of fans and riders descended on the town for the annual event, for which the South Wales Argus is an official media partner.

The scorching weather brought out the best of the county and many riders, including big names like British Cycling head coach Shane Sutton and former multiple world champion Hugh Porter, who thoroughly enjoyed their rides around the countryside in Saturday's Iron Mountain Sportif.

The festival’s highlights included the Wales Open Criterium around the streets of Abergavenny, the Grand Prix of Wales and Para Grand Prix of Wales on Sunday afternoon.

The Festival, combined with the Abergavenny Carnival on Saturday at Bailey Park, brought a great economic boost to town and surrounding area, with hotels and guest houses booked out, cafes and restaurants doing a roaring trade and high street businesses seeing a surge in numbers through their doors.

Abergavenny trader and keen cyclist, Miles Preece, who was in a support vehicle, said the event was a great spectacle for the town.

Mr Preece, of M & D Cycles, said: "The festival was superbly supported."

"We hope it will go from strength to strength and that people will stay for the weekend and enjoy all the events."

Trader Paul Wadsworth, of F.R Ball, who took part and sponsored the traders race said: "It was a huge success and brought all the traders together and an element of camaraderie."

"It definitely brought people into town."

Festival organiser Bill Owen said: "It was another great weekend for everyone who rode in the events or watched from the barriers that lined the streets.

"We would like to thank all the fans, spectators and supporters of cycling right across the UK for coming along to see and take part in our Festival.

"But most of all, we would like to thank the people of Abergavenny and Monmouthshire for allowing us to bring such exceptional sport to your doorsteps and making us now truly the Capital of Cycling in Wales."