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RideLondon confirmed for 2022-31 – but switches to the SpringRideLondon Freecycle (picture credit TfL)

RideLondon confirmed for 2022-31 – but switches to the Spring

Capital's cycling festival to switch to one-day format...
by Simon_MacMichael
Thu, Mar 11, 2021 18:55
14

Transport ​for London (TfL) has confirmed today that the RideLondon festival of cycling will continue over the next decade, from 2022-31 – but will switch from its late Summer slot to the Spring, and will take place over one day, rather than a weekend.

The event will be run by existing delivery partner, London Marathon Events – although, as we reported last week, the men’s UCI elite race, the RideLondon-Surrey Classic, has been dropped from the programme.

> RideLondon set to continue from 2022-31 but in new format, Transport for London papers reveal

The women’s elite race, the RideLondon Classique, remains, as will sportive events – although routes have yet to be determined, as well as a title sponsor for the event, with previous backer Prudential having ended its participation.

Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “RideLondon is one of the highlights of the year, so I’m really pleased that we have secured this 10 year partnership.

“Like many Londoners, I have really missed the real-life event so I’m delighted that the new, more family-focused format, along with the RideLondon Classique women’s professional race, will help RideLondon bounce back with a bang next year.”

Hugh Brasher, Event Director of London Marathon Events, added: “RideLondon is the world’s greatest festival of cycling and London Marathon Events is committed to developing it further every year and inspiring more people to cycle more often.

“Globally, it is one of the biggest charity one day cycling events and we aim to engage more than 100,000 people on an extraordinary day when London celebrates cycling.”

RideLondon
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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14 comments

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lonpfrb | 3 years ago
2 likes

Having done the Surrey 100 twice, with the persistence required to even get an entry, I'm very disappointed that Surrey council were persuaded by the tiny minority who complained about one days rolling road closures despite months of notice and many millions raised for good causes. Weak leadership to put it politely. London Marathon Events do great work, along with many others; police, ambulance etc.
Spring is useless to me as a late summer event provided a viable training target, which this is not. So much for more sustainable travel and improved health....

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Awavey replied to lonpfrb | 3 years ago
0 likes

good point on the date switch, Id not considered that aspect properly yet, but yeah you are right that probably nixes it as a targetable ride for most people as winter training in the UK is harsh.

and Im not sure the aim is even for sustainable travel/health anymore, the press release talked more in terms bringing thousands of tourists to restaurants/shops in the capital...which you wouldnt have thought was exactly that much of a necessity normally

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Surreyrider | 3 years ago
3 likes

Confused by this announcement. There's no mention of a new sponsor and there's no mention of any agreement to use closed roads inside or, more importantly, outside London. 
I hope I'm missing something because I like the event but from reading the media reports it seems like all that's actually been announced is a partnership between London Marathon Events and TfL. 

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Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
3 likes

Looking forward to this.  Even a constrained route around London.   I'm hopeful for a long range dash out to the Chiltern's though. 

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PRSboy replied to Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
2 likes

Maybe do it on the same day as the London Marathon. Would be like a real life Zwift event!

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
1 like

I see Essex or Kent as more of an option if they are keeping the start at Lee Valley. Although Kent would be harder from there unless they close the Rotherhithe or Tower Bridge.  

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Chris Hayes replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
1 like

Kent would be impossible from the Lee Valley. It's a long drag from Tower Bridge to Kent - it's 40 miles from Lee Valley to Westerham....from there you could go up Toys Hill down the other side to Ide Hill and then back.....possibly via Star Hill - and that's your 100.  It's like half the Hell of Ashdown. 

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Milkfloat replied to Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
0 likes

If it is a family focused event then I suspect that a 100 won't be on the cards. 

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FlyingPenguin replied to Milkfloat | 3 years ago
2 likes
Milkfloat wrote:

If it is a family focused event then I suspect that a 100 won't be on the cards. 

A 100 mile option is explicitly mentioned in the TFL paper in the linked article, along with a number of shorter options (seemingly simultaneously).

Early days yet, but looks like there should be something for those not the target market for the FreeCycle.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to FlyingPenguin | 3 years ago
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The document links seem to be dead in both the article and the initial tweet trail so no telling if they did sign off on all of it. 

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FlyingPenguin replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
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AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

The document links seem to be dead in both the article and the initial tweet trail so no telling if they did sign off on all of it. 

True, we won't know anything for certain until its formally announced, but the fact it was in the proposal is cause for hope. They *could* have started from the idea of keeping it within London which would have meant the 46 and 19 only, at least they were exploring the longer option.

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Jetmans Dad replied to FlyingPenguin | 3 years ago
1 like

FlyingPenguin][quote=AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

They *could* have started from the idea of keeping it within London which would have meant the 46 and 19 only, at least they were exploring the longer option.

Or, extend the 46 to 50 and have century riders do "two laps" ... obviously bearing in mind that the RL46 is not a loop. 

Having done RideLondon 4 times, delighted to see it continue in some form, although the switch to Spring likely makes it impossible (or at best very difficult) for me to take part again unless they can time it so it always falls in the school holidays. 

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thereverent replied to FlyingPenguin | 3 years ago
0 likes

The 46 and 19 routes went into Surry (46 briefly after Hampton Court bridge before coming back into London at Surbiton, and the 19 started at Sandown Racecourse in Surrey)

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lonpfrb replied to Milkfloat | 3 years ago
0 likes
Milkfloat wrote:

If it is a family focused event then I suspect that a 100 won't be on the cards. 

in the past there have been weekend family events but since they were not marshalled correctly I would not recommend that to a competent cyclist. Those are about mass participation not a sportive. Walking up cobblestone streets in your road cycling shoes pushing the bike not much fun..
Ride London was a sportive on closed roads, so very different to the family events.

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