The Tour of Britain will grace Wales for the first time since cycling's top event was held in Newport in 2004.

The 2010 Tour will start in Rochdale on 11 September and finish in London on 18 September where Team Sky are to star on home British roads for the first time.

And the third stage will be held in Wales on 13 September as the 150km route goes from Newtown to Swansea.

Team Sky sensation Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway may defend his title on the toughest route since the rebranding.

"We are delighted to be bringing the race back into Wales this year and look forward to a tough stage into Swansea this year," said Michael Bennett, technical director of The Tour of Britain.

The world's top cyclists from 16 professional international teams will take on the challenge of the eight-stage Tour of Britain in 2010 that includes visits to Norfolk and Essex for the first time.

Stage three visits Wales and after a tough stage, the peloton will head up Constitution Hill before the finish in Swansea.

The tour will then head West to Somerset and Devon for stages four and five.

Stage four will see the cyclists race from Minehead to Teignmouth, with stage five going from Tavistock to Glastonbury a day later.

The final 100km stage will see the riders take on a new circuit in the London borough of Newham, the host borough for the 2012 London Olympic Games, where the winner of the 2010 Tour of Britain will be crowned.

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