UPDATE - Monday, 15th June 12:00:

Alec James, Islington CC rider and Press Officer for Sustrans, was amongst those affected by the tacks on the road.

It resulted in him crashing on a downhill section of the route at 35mph. To add insult to clear injury, he has tweeted that Cardiff Council lost his bike while he was in the ambulance.

Heal up fast, Alec!

UPDATE - 13:00:

Since the publication of our initial article (see below) earlier this morning a number of developments have taken place:

• Gwent Police warn of potential arrests for anyone found to be compromising the safety of riders:
  
  "It goes without saying that anyone found doing anything which could put the safety of @VelothonWales cyclists at risk could be arrested."
  
  
• The South Wales Argus are reporting that more than 30 riders have been affected with punctures 
  
  
• An affected local business, Seawall Tearoom, comes out in support of the event

Gwent Police warning of arrests

Cycling blogger, Phil Stead (@cyclingcymru) Tweets the disruption

Sports Journalist at The Sun, Alex Terrell (@alxterrell) does likewise

Seawall Tearoom, a local business in Goldcliff, Newport affected by the event is happy to lend its support

Claire Roberts (@clur_roberts) has a message for those opposing the event

------------------------

Initial Article:

The inaugural Velothon Wales professional race and sportive takes place today [Sunday 14 June], with around 15,000 cyclists taking on the closed roads of Cardiff and South Wales. 

However, Wales's biggest cycling event has not been met with universal approval, particularly from local businesses and some residents, who have been extremely vocal in their opposition over the past week. 

As has happened with other closed road mass participation events, such as the Etape Caledonia, reports spread of tacks being laid on parts of the course near Celtic Manor in an attempt to sabotage it.

Riders took to Twitter to upload pictures of the affected areas and vent their frustration.

Pic: @hath79 Twitter

Someone tool has put tacks town. Punctures everywhere #TakeTheProRoad @VelothonWales pic.twitter.com/E67vM3chkV

-- Gareth Hathway (@hath79) June 14, 2015

Tacks on road at Celtic Manor. Bikes on shoulders #velothon pic.twitter.com/OfE2iKrOu1

-- Alex Terrell (@alxterrell) June 14, 2015

Event director of Velothon Wales Andy Taylors told WalesOnline.co.uk: "We can confirm that a small amount of tacks were discovered at around 9.30am on isolated sections of the route at Belmont Road in Caerleon and 10.02am at High Street/New Road in Caerphilly. Fortunately, no accidents or injuries were caused and the affected areas were cleared within a few minutes."

More when we have it.