In just four weeks’ time, London and Surrey will again host the world’s cycling elite at Prudential RideLondon, part of the Mayor of London’s multi-award winning festival of cycling.
Hot on the heels of this week’s thrilling Tour de France, London and Surrey are preparing to welcome the world with festivals and public street parties along the routes of this year’s Prudential RideLondon events on Sunday 10 August.
As the most anticipated event of the weekend, Londoners, visitors to the capital and Surrey residents are expected to turn out in force to see 150 of the world’s top men race over an extended, tougher route in this 1.HC status UCI classified race (the second-highest international classification). The event begins at 13:00 and is covered live on BBC 1, to bring the weekend to a thrilling conclusion.
Ahead of the professional race, around 24,000 riders will take on the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100, starting in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from 06:00 -08:30. They will ride out through London to take on the testing hills of Surrey, returning to the capital for a spectacular finish on The Mall. The world’s top handcyclists will also race the last fifteen miles of the same route, starting at 08:30 in Kingston upon Thames in the Prudential RideLondon Handcycle Classic.
Top spots along the route to watch the action are (in route order):
Kingston
This year Kingston takes centre stage for the day, hosting the start of the new Prudential RideLondon Handcycle Classic at 08:30 from the recently renovated Ancient Market Place. Both the sportive and the pro race pass through the town twice and Kingston is putting on a huge festival to welcome the cyclists. Supporters will be able to pull up a deck chair and watch the action on a giant screen, visit a cycling exhibition featuring the best international cycling brands and entertainment, and make the most of all that Kingston’s variety of shops, restaurants, bars and cafes has to offer.
Hampton Wick
The community of Hampton Wick is putting on a festival that includes carnival entertainers, live music, BBQs and street food, vintage cars and bicycles, a craft fair, a children’s carousel and fairground stalls, pony rides and even an appearance by Henry VIII and some of his wives. To find out more, visit www.hwfestival.org.uk.
Pyrford
The Surrey village is again hosting Celebrate Pyrford at Pyrford Cricket Club on Coldharbour Road to celebrate the events passing through the village. The festival will kick off with the Pyrford Games, featuring sack, egg-and-spoon and three-legged races, as well as junior relays for the little ones. There will also be live music, a bouncy castle, BBQ, Hog Roast, Pimms tent, Hogs Back Brewery beer and a big screen showing all the live action from the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic. Find out more at www.celebratepyrford.moonfruit.com
Dorking
The High Street is one of the best locations on the route to get close to the action with the 24,000 amateur riders passing through followed by the pro riders racing through four times during the Surrey Hills circuits. Two giant screens showing the live coverage and street entertainment will keep the party atmosphere going throughout the day and big crowds are expected to line the streets to cheer on the riders.
Denbies Wine Estate
The Denbies Estate will be transformed into a festival hot spot with bike-based entertainment, local food and drink stalls, family picnic areas, children’s activities and a giant screen showing the BBC’s live coverage of the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic. The beautiful grounds of the iconic vineyard in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty provide a unique setting to spend the day, soak up the atmosphere and cheer on some of the biggest names in professional cycling.
Raynes Park and Wimbledon
There will be lots of great entertainment along the route at different locations in Raynes Park and Wimbledon. A street party will be taking place at the Worple Road junction of Wimbledon Hill Road and many venues offer some of the best places to watch the event throughout the day. Shops in Wimbledon, including the Broadway Centre and High Street, will be open.
The Mall and Green Park
Many of the bike-based activations from Saturday’s Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle will remain in Green Park to entertain the crowds on Sunday and giant screens will be showing the BBC’s live coverage in The Mall and Green Park.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: “In my experience there is no greater way to enjoy London than on two wheels and the returning Prudential RideLondon weekend is the perfect celebration of this. Whether avid enthusiasts from the Lycra-brigade, those finally rediscovering their cycling mojo, or newcomers looking to see what all the fuss is about, it promises to be a fantastic celebration of the humble bicycle and our great city.”
David Hodge, Leader of Surrey County Council, said: “If 2013’s amazing spectacle is anything to go by, this year’s festival of cycling promises to be a fantastic celebration, generating a huge economic shot in the arm for businesses in the county, providing spectators with thrilling events for free and showcasing Surrey’s picture-perfect countryside to the world once again.”
John Warburton, Executive Director at Prudential, commented: “A great strength of the Prudential RideLondon festival is that the event and associated activities spread much wider than just central London. The excellent activities in and around Dorking fulfill an important part of making sure that the festival weekend can be enjoyed by as many people as possible in Surrey as well as in London.”
“There are so many great places to watch the action this year,” said Event Director Hugh Brasher. “We saw huge crowds last weekend for the Tour de France and we’re looking forward to that atmosphere again in August.”
An extensive communications campaign is already underway to help businesses and the public plan and get around on the day, as well as make the most of the events over the weekend. Since May, information has been sent to more than 1 million residents and businesses along and close to the event routes to help them plan ahead – further information will follow this month. A series of public information sessions will be held in July in the affected areas to provide details of the temporary changes in place and to offer residents and businesses the opportunity to ask questions. Information on travel disruption and advice is available on www.tfl.gov.uk/prudentialridelondon and www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk. To avoid delays, wherever possible all drivers are advised to avoid areas near the event routes.
