ORGANISERS at the Abergavenny Festival of Cycling are celebrating another major coup by clinching not one but two half-hour slots on national television this year.

The Sky Sports cameras have filmed at the Festival in past years, concentrating mainly on the Friday evening Wales Open Criterium races.

Recently, British Cycling announced a fresh partnership with British Eurosport and the broadcasters have agreed to film the Criterium races on July 12 and the Grand Prix of Wales on the following Sunday.

Because both races are due to be screened in the same week when stages of the Tour de France are televised, the national coverage will be an ideal showcase for the Abergavenny area in the full bloom of Summer.

Abergavenny Festival of Cycling organiser Bill Owen said, "This is fantastic news for the Festival and we are delighted that we are part of the race package involving not just one but two races on our big weekend."

The races, featuring many of Britain's best domestic riders and former National champions, are due to be screened on July 16 and July 19, just days after the events take place in the heart of Monmouthshire.

The Friday evening races are part of the Elite Circuit Series that take in rounds in Otley, Stockton, Colne, Beverley and ending in Sheffield on July 24.

The Sunday Grand Prix of Wales is also a round of the annual national road race Premier Calendar Series which will start with the Tour of the Reservoir before the Lincoln Grand Prix, Beaumont Trophy, Stockton Grand Prix and finishing with the Ryedale Grand Prix.

However, Abergavenny's Grand Prix of Wales could prove to be the most crucial round of the Premier Calendar Series.

Owen said, "This is the penultimate round of the Premier Calendar Series and could be where the podium places are decided before the final round."

The events are not only being shown on British Eurosport's regular TV station but also on their YouTube channel.

Managing Director of British Eurosport, David Kerr said, "Adding the best domestic races to our existing 40 race programme of Grand Tours and Classics adds even greater depth to our year round cycling coverage and strengthens our position as the home of Cycling."