Defending champion Adam Blythe (GBR) with his team Orica-GreenEDGE and world-beating sprinter Andre Greipel (GER) from Lotto-Soudal are the latest big names to be added to the roster for the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic on Sunday 2 August.
Sheffield-born Blythe proved himself a master tactician in the race last year when he jumped from the back of the leading group of five to win the sprint down The Mall and take the title for NFTO. This season, the 25-year-old was signed by Orica-GreenEDGE, the first Australian team to have earned World Tour status, and has ridden as lead out man for Caleb Ewan.
Greipel, known as The Gorilla, is one of the world’s great sprinters with an outstanding record in major races including 13 stage victories at Grand Tours: six at the Tour de France, four at the Vuelta a Espana and three at the Giro d’Italia.
“Adam Blythe will face a huge challenge to defend his title this year,” said Mick Bennett, Race Director of the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic. “As last year’s winner, Blythe will be a marked man and our own Mark Cavendish and Greipel, two of the best sprinters in the world, together with their very strong teams, will be keeping a wary eye on him.”
Twenty-five teams of six riders will contest the 200km race, which this year starts on Horse Guards Parade in St James’s Park and offers the world’s largest prize fund for a one-day race. Also confirmed is Sir Bradley Wiggins with his team WIGGINS and Mark Cavendish - the Manx Missile - and his Etixx – Quick-Step team. BBC Sport will televise the race live, with coverage distributed worldwide.
The third edition of the race, rated Category 1.HC on the UCI Europe Tour, will start at the iconic location of Horse Guards Parade in central London before going out through the capital to Kingston upon Thames, Hampton Court and then over the River Thames into Surrey. After 57km of racing, the first challenge the riders will face is the 2.4km climb of Staple Lane in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The peloton will then race through Dorking before taking the southern approach to the ascent of Leith Hill, the highest point in Surrey. With a further three circuits (one more than last year) of a loop through Dorking and up the testing 6.7 per cent climb to Ranmore Common, this year’s race is set to be a true classic.
The riders will then race up the famous zigzags of Box Hill, through Leatherhead, Oxshott and Esher before returning back through Kingston upon Thames. From there the peloton heads towards central London, through Raynes Park, Wimbledon, over Putney Bridge and alongside the River Thames through Chelsea. The closing stages of the race go through Parliament Square and up Whitehall to the famous 1km to go marker from Trafalgar Square through Admiralty Arch, where the riders will start the final sprint along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace and the finish line. See the route map and profile here.
The Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic is the fifth and final event of Prudential RideLondon, the world’s greatest festival of cycling. More than 95,000 riders will participate in the five events over the weekend of 1-2 August.
An extensive communications campaign is planned to help businesses and the public plan ahead and get around on the day. This will include a leaflet drop in July to 1 million+ residents and businesses along the route, drop-in sessions for local people and community access plans.
Source: DSG
