Mark Cavendish is one of the star names
Former World Champion and 25-time Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish will lead the line-up in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic which goes through Wimbledon on Sunday August 10.
The Manx cyclist (right) will lead his Omega Pharma Quick-Step team in the event, which has been awarded 1.HC status (the second-highest international classification) by the UCI, the international cycling federation, in only its second year, and takes place on a new, tougher route this year.
The peloton will pass through Wimbledon town centre on the return leg from the Surrey Hills, after cyclists have already travelled from the Olympic stadium, out to Surrey before heading back to the finish line at the Mall via Raynes Park.
The last incline of the race is up Wimbledon Hill towards Wimbledon common. An amateur cycle ride - the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 - will be swiftly followed by the professional men's race on the same day.
The event is being repeated following the success of last year's cycling festival, and as the event gets closer, there will be more information about how to get involved and what people should do if they need to travel on the day.
It will involve 24,000 riders taking part in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 – many cycling in aid of charity – as well as the afternoon race for 150 of the world's top professional male riders, the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic.
The main race is over a 200km distance and the organisers have created a more challenging route for the world's best.
Changes to the men's pro race route will see the 200-kilometre racing start at 13:00 and focus on multiple circuits in the Surrey Hills. The changes include two climbs through Denbies Vineyard to Ranmore Common and the introduction of additional sections of the 2012 Olympic Road Race route, such as the climb of Staple Lane over the North Downs near Guildford.
The race will be covered live on BBC1 and shown internationally in more than 160 countries.
Cavendish will arrive at Prudential RideLondon from the Tour de France, where he’ll be setting his sights on winning the green points jersey, which he won in 2011.
He said: "I'm excited to be riding in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic for the first time this year. It's another opportunity to race in front of the amazing crowds in Britain. Coming after the Tour de France and Commonwealth Games, more and more people are going to be at the roadside cheering us on and wanting to be a part of the weekend.
"The whole event just shows the growth of cycling in Britain, so it will be great to be a part of it with my Omega Pharma Quick-Step team. We know it's a challenging route, but we also know it's one that can end in a sprint finish, which should suit the team and me.”
The 2013 British Champion will headline a 150-rider field comprised of 25 teams of six riders, including Cavendish’s current world number-one-ranked team Omega Pharma Quick-Step
July 3, 2014