Preparing for the Prudential RideLondon 100? You’re not alone, the pros are gearing up for the Grand Prix on Saturday 1 August.
Winner of the 2014 edition, Georgia Bronzini, will be racing the criterium around St James’s Park, as well as Double Olympic champion, Laura Trott – who won the event in 2013.
Last year, the duo were both racing in Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling kit – but this time around, they’ll be each other’s competition.
My ambition, as ever, is to go out and win it – Laura Trott
Trott will be backed by five of her Matrix Fitness team members, and said: “It’s always such a great event and my ambition, as ever, is to go out and win it. Every race I compete in I want to win so I’d like to think that I can do that again at Prudential RideLondon.”
The line-up also includes Women’s Tour winner and German time trial champion Lisa Brennauer, who is currently sitting in second on the UCI World Rankings.
Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International will also be fielding a team, and 2015 London Nocturne winner Katie Archibald is signed up and expected to be thrashing it out in the one hour race.
The women’s race will begin at 6pm, and will be televised live on BBC2, it will follow the Bromptom World Championships at 5pm and precede youth races. Then men will race the RideLondon-Surrey Classic in the afternoon, the following day.
Saturday’s criterium race will follow a 1.3 mile loop, around London’s St James’s Park – beginning on The Mall and passing Buckingham Palace, with two tight right turns along the way onto Birdcage Walk, and a 90-degree left-hand turn into Horse Guards Road.
The finish line will face Buckingham Palace, giving the riders a chance to salute the royals should they be feeling particularly patriotic.
More than 95,000 riders are expected to take part in the cycling celebrations over the weekend, including the ever popular 100 mile sportive on Sunday.
The festival concept was developed by the Mayor of London, Transport for London and London & Partners in partnership with Surrey County Council and is sponsored by Prudential. The event is managed by the London & Surrey Cycling Partnership.
Fancy riding a 100 mile sportive like the RideLondon? Here’s part one of our sportive training plan.
