Carmarthenshire becomes Warwickshire on Tour coverage

ITV made a gaff last year when they said that the start of the Men’s Tour was in Newport. Hard to believe that they could make another mammoth mistake but they have.

This year the TV network has done it again and stated that Stage 6 was in Warwickshire (See Screenshot) not Carmarthenshire. 

Geography aside there is also a distinct difference in the structure of the words Warwickshire and Carmarthenshire, i.e. the latter being a traditionally Welsh phonetic sounding name with the former having that distinct Anglo Saxon silent or tricky  ‘w’.

There are some similarities in environment. Both have castles, perhaps even a river but last we looked Warwickshire was land locked and had no coastline. Also and most glaringly obvious is that Warwickshire is in England, while this final stage of the race took place firmly in Wales.

The Gwendraeth Valley was also missed out of the coverage, despite it being in the heart of Carmarthenshire and a beautiful part of the course too.

Who wouldn’t want to see that beautiful vista from the top of Tumble hill looking across the Gwendraeth Valley and the wonderful backdrop of one of the highest hills in Carmarthenshire, Heol Y Meinciau?

What a wonderful final climb that would have been dropping down to an equally beautiful backdrop of Kidwelly Castle and views out to sea taking in the Gower headland and even Caldy Island.

There were so many beautiful places along that stretch like the views going across Trimsaran Mountain. Alas the Gwendraeth did not feature in the coverage. It skipped from Penygroes to Pembrey despite hundreds of people having taken the time to line the roads along the Gwendraeth Valley including Llanelli’s MP Nia Griffith who opted for Tumble as her ‘bird’s eye view’ vantage point.

We contacted Carmarthenshire County Council to ask if they had any comment on the gaff. They replied: “We have no control over what ITV airs, please contact them direct. May I suggest you contact the tour organisers who determine the route.”

We contacted ITV for a comment and we will publish that when we receive it.

Despite the geographical gaff the event was still a huge success and it has no doubt given the viewers of the ITV coverage a new perspective on Warwickshire.