London Marathon Events, the organiser of the iconic marathon and a number of other sporting events, has announced that the RideLondon festival of cycling will return in 2022 with a new format.
The event, which was established in 2013 as part of the legacy programme of the 2012 Olympic Games in London and features both professional and mass participation elements, will take place at the end of May next year, having been cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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For the first time, the event will feature a three-stage race as part of top-tier cycling’s UCI Women’s World Tour “featuring the world’s best riders.” (The RideLondon men's elite race held UCI WorldTour status from 2017 to 2019.)
The race will run across the weekend of 27-29 May and a new partnership with Essex County Council will see its first two stages hosted in the county, which is northwest of London. Previously, from 2013 to 2020, RideLondon partnered with Surrey County Council.
In addition, on 29 May, there will be a new 100-mile challenge ride, called the RideLondon-Essex 100, that will start in London, go out to Essex and finish back in the centre of the capital.
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There will also be a number of family-oriented rides on traffic-free roads around London.
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By GlobalDataMore details about the events and routes are to be announced in due course.
Meanwhile, London Marathon Events says it intends to begin speaking to brands about potential sponsorship and partnership opportunities.
Prudential, the global insurance firm, was the title sponsor from the first edition of the event in 2013 through to the edition in 2019 and had intended for 2020 to be the last year of its title sponsorship before the event was cancelled.
Hugh Brasher, event director of RideLondon, said: “RideLondon has inspired hundreds of thousands of people to cycle more and, to date, it has raised an incredible £80 million (£109 million) for charities. We are proud of all it has achieved and excited about our plans for 2022 onwards which offer unique opportunities for our commercial partners.”
Brian Greenwood, head of sponsorship sales at London Marathon Events, said: “RideLondon is a celebration of the bicycle and provides something for everyone – whether it is first-time cyclists or those with much more experience.
“We believe that with 20 million people in Britain either owning or having access to a bicycle and with the continued investments in infrastructure in our cities, RideLondon is a captivating proposition for brands seeking to be at the forefront of the global move to a more sustainable future and the promotion of healthier, active lifestyles for all.”
