ABERGAVENNY'S Bill Owen has been named Organiser of the Year by British Cycling.

Only a month ago, Owen was named Welsh Cycling Organiser of the Year and given a Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to cycling in Wales.

Now the man behind Abergavenny's hugely popular Festival of Cycling has been awarded another prestigious honour by British Cycling.

Owen's Organiser of the Year award is for staging the Grand Prix of Wales and the Welsh leg of the Elite Town Centre Series criterriums.

Owen said, "I am honoured and proud to have been named British Cycling Organiser of the Year. The 2013 events were fantastic occasions and this award, along with the Welsh Cycling Organiser of the Year trophy, is shared with all of the people who help every year to turn Abergavenny into a cycling mecca for Wales and the UK.

"Without the support and help of our army of volunteers, Gwent Police, the councils of Abergavenny and Monmouthshire, the business owners of the district, our media partners and the public who turn out every year to watch some of the best road racing in Wales, the Festival would not happen.

"Now we are all working flat out to make the 2014 Festival, which will incorporate the National Road Race Championships for both women and elite men plus the National Time Trial Championships and The Championships Sportif, the best we have ever organised.

"The fact that the Elite Men's road race takes place just a week before the start of the Tour de France in Yorkshire means that this is the last chance for British riders like Sir Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Geriant Thomas and Mark Cavendish to get a race into their legs before setting off towards the Champs Elysees in Paris.

"We will be making several announcements in the coming months, including the exciting new and challenging course, major partnerships, entries for the Sportif and much more, so keep viewing the Festival website and the Press for details."