British mountain bike star Andrei Burton insists Prudential RideLondon is set to be bigger and better than ever ahead of the third annual event, which kicks-off on August 1.
With more than 70,000 cyclists expected to take part in the festival’s FreeCycle alone, the London 2012 legacy will be evident for all to see across a variety of competitive and mass involvement races.
Burton will be making a world record attempt as part of the weekend, while stars such as Mark Cavendish are also expected to be taking part.
And after a pair of memorable events in 2013 and 2014, the UK’s top ranked mountain bike rider is anticipating another special experience for all in attendance.
“I’ve been with RideLondon since the beginning. The first year we did some really big shows in the ExCeL Arena, and then last year we turned it into a Guinness World Records Day,” Burton said at the launch of the Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle.
“We broke seven world records altogether then – five official Guinness World Records and two others, so it was hugely successful.
“But this year will see it evolve into a big international competition – we’ve got ten national competitors coming from ten different countries, with four of them being current world champions.
“It’s going to be massive. There will be the really high level of competition, but it’s also a huge amount of fun for the spectators to watch.”
The FreeCycle gives members of the public the chance to ride ten miles across the centre of London while taking in some of the city’s most iconic sites, including Buckingham Palace, St Pauls and Southbank.
Burton’s teammate Joe Seddon was also on show at Leadenhall Market to launch the FreeCycle and show off some freestyle skills, while some of the young cyclists involved in last year’s event made fruit smoothies by bike.
And event director Hugh Brasher was quick to point out the variety of activities that will be on offer across the weekend after sampling the entertainment on the day.
“We have watched some of the urban cyclists do some of their amazing display, and that is just one of the things we have to entertain people when they do the FreeCycle on August 1,” he said.
“It is totally free to enter and enjoy ten miles of traffic-free roads around the centre of London and the city, as well as the six festival zones around the route.”
Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle is a family fun ride for riders of all ages and abilities on traffic-free roads. To register, visit www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk/freecycle
