Boris Johnson has confirmed details of the two day “festival of cycling” he first announced in January.
RideLondon will take place over the weekend of 3rd August 2013 and will be managed by the organisers of the London Marathon and The Tour of Britain through their London & Surrey Cycling Partnership.
City Hall says it hopes the event will become “the largest charity fund-raising cycle ride in the world”.
The festival will be promoted internationally and “provide a long term source of income for investment into improving conditions for cycling in London”.
As previously reported, up to 70,000 cyclists will take part in an eight mile family fun ride past London’s iconic landmarks.
The weekend will also include a 100 mile course beginning in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for 20,000 amateur, club and world class elite cyclists. The event was originally to include “up to 35,000” cyclists.
There will also be a “city centre grand prix” which will focus on Women’s Elite, hand-cycles and youth groups.
Cyclists who wish to take part in the weekend can now register at www.RideLondon.co.uk.
Mayor Johnson said: “I urge every Londoner and cycle fanatics from all over the country, if not the world, to mark the weekend of 3 August 2013 in their diaries for what I believe will become one of the world’s number one cycling events.”
Nick Bitel of London & Surrey Cycling Partnership, added: “With our combined expertise and technical knowledge of organising elite cycling and mass participation events, LSCP expect to deliver a world class festival weekend of cycling open to amateurs, club and the world’s best cyclists.
“We already know from our charity partners that this event will be a great opportunity to help raise funds for British charities and we will aim to make this the world’s largest charity fund-raising cycle event.”
Commenting on today’s announcement, Liberal Democrat London Assembly leader Caroline Pidgeon said: “A two day world class festival of cycling next year is clearly welcome and will be a great addition to Skyride.
“However the Mayor has merely re-announced existing plans. Incredibly the proposed event will now also be smaller than what was first proposed back in January.
“At the centre of any cycling legacy must be bold measures to make cycling in London far safer and attractive for 365 days a year. If the Mayor wants London to truly become a cycling city he needs to put serious money where his mouth is.”
