The third annual Prudential RideLondon rolls into town this weekend with 95,000 cyclists expected to take part over two days in events all over the capital.

Here’s what you need to know...

  • Taking its cue from the London Marathon, RideLondon marries mass-participation cycling in the capital with pro cyclists competing.
  • There are five events over two days, Saturday August 1 and Sunday August 2.
  • The Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle is not a day where people try to get rid of old sofas on the web, but a family-friendly cycle through closed roads in central London. Around 70,000 people are expected to hop on to two wheels for a free, leisurely jaunt round the capital’s most iconic landmarks.
  • There will be six festival sites with free festival sites to stop off at for cyclists and spectators to enjoy some bike-based fun.
  • The Grand Prix is also on Saturday around St James’ Park and features two youth races where you can catch Olympic cyclists of the future, and the UK’s largest women’s criterion.
  • The 10th annual Brompton World Championships also makes up part of the Grand Prix for the first time. It will see well dressed competitors (lycra is banned) compete and even having to unfold their bikes at the start.

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  • On Sunday, the HandCycle classic will see top handcyclists compete on a 15 mile course from Kingston to The Mall.
  • The big one, the London-Surrey 100 is also on Sunday. Starting from 6am, around 25,000 riders will depart from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and head out around Surrey’s hills and back up to finish at The Mall on the 100 mile route which is similar to the London 2012 Olympic Road Race.
  • Here’s the route:

  • Last year this race raised around £10m for various charities.
  • Celebrities riding the route include Bexley’s X Factor winner Sam Bailey, Rugby World Cup winners Martin Johnson and Matt Dawson, gold medal triple jumper Jonathan Edwards and TV presenter Jenni Falconer.

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  • Also on Sunday, the pros take to the streets in the London-Surrey Classic.  150 of the world’s best cyclists will take on a similar route to the amateurs but a bit longer and with extra circuits of Dorking.
  • It’s going to be on the BBC throughout the weekend and also on British Eurosport.
  • For spectators, it’s all free to watch and there’s no ticketing.
  • Kingston is a spectator hot spot. It is the only place where amateurs and professionals pass through twice and there is a bike festival where BMX display riders and unicyclists will entertain.
  • In Wimbledon, there will be the Love Wimbledon street party cheering people on while Lacey Road in Putney will host fun, music, entertainment and food.
  • Other good spectators spots include Pyrford and Dorking.

 

  • As you would expect, all of this leads to extensive road closures. On Saturday, roads in Westminster, Camden and the City will be shut from 6am to 6pm, while road closures begin from 4am in east London and 5am in south west and central London on the Sunday.
  • Roads will be gradually re-opened throughout the day.
  • Lots of roads in south west London will be closed on Sunday, including the high streets in Putney, Wandsworth and Wimbledon and some exit slip roads on the A3.