World Class Cycling Through Putney & Wimbledon This August
Plan your travel on RideLondon weekend
The organisers of a huge weekend festival celebrating cycling have unveiled more details about exciting events that will see more than 20,000 cyclists pass through the borough.
On Sunday, August 4, two major cycling events will go through Putney – the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 for up to 20,000 amateur and club riders and the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic involving the top international professional men.
They are part of the post 2012 Olympic and Paralympic legacy and aim to give a major boost to the number of active cyclists in the UK, while attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to London and Surrey.
Festival manager the London and Surrey Cycle Partnership (LSCP) hopes the Prudential RideLondon weekend, which will be covered by the BBC, will become the world’s premier closed-road cycling event.
Wandsworth’s transport spokesman, Councillor Russell King, said:
“Last year we were treated to the Olympic Cycle Road Race and this year we will get to see thousands of cyclists pass through our borough in an event like no other.
“Our hope is that many of those lining the streets to watch will be inspired by the professionals or the dedicated charity fundraisers and start cycling more themselves - with the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme about to expand into the borough there couldn't be a better time.”
Council officers have been liaising with RideLondon organisers to ensure related disruption is kept to a minimum - but the LSCP is reminding residents to expect travel disruption and to plan ahead should they intend on driving in the area on August 4.
That Sunday will see Wimbledon Park Side, Tibbet’s Ride, Putney Hill, Putney High Street and Putney Bridge closed from 7.30am on August 4 – and will be reopened from about 7.15pm.
All of these roads form part of the inbound route for the cyclists taking part in the events, which start in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and run through London and Surrey before returning to the capital to finish along The Mall.
Organisers expect cyclists in the Surrey 100 to arrive in Wandsworth between 9.50am and 4.35pm, with the pros in the Surrey Classic due to make an appearance between 5.45pm and 6.15pm.
There will be crossing points along the route for pedestrians and cyclists, while footways alongside closed roads will be open as normal to ensure that pedestrian access to properties isn’t affected.
Drivers are being advised to avoid driving in areas around the route if possible – and those that do need to use the roads should plan ahead and allow more time for their journey. Parking along the route will be suspended throughout the day.
Some bus services will be diverted, temporarily suspended or terminate earlier than their usual destination as a result of the road closures – and there will be stops that are temporarily relocated or suspended.
Other significant nearby closures on the day include Richmond Park, which will be closed to traffic all day, Chiswick Bridge, the A4 westbound to the Hogarth Roundabout, Wimbledon town centre and Wimbledon Village.
Detailed information, including a list of all affected local roads, is available from www.tfl.gov.uk/prudentialridelondon. Alternatively, travel information and advice on avoiding disruption can be obtained by calling 0343 222 1234.
The four events making up the two-day RideLondon cycling festival are:
• The Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 on Sunday, August 4. Open to amateur and club riders, it attracted more than 55,000 registrants for about 20,000 places.
• The Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic on Sunday, August 4. This race is for elite men's professional riders and follows a 140 mile route that includes the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 route plus three ascents of Leith Hill, the highest point in Surrey and even steeper than Box Hill.
• The Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix on Saturday, August 3, will feature the world's best women, junior and hand cyclists in action on a circuit in and around St James's Park.
• The Prudential RideLondon Freecycle on Saturday, August 3. This eight-mile mass participation ride is free to enter and open to cyclists of all ages and abilities.
Highlights of the weekend's action and live coverage of the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic will be shown by the BBC.
June 27, 2013