The popularlity of cycling in London shows to sign of waning after the Olympic Games, with over 25,000 people now registered for next year's inaugural Ride London 100-mile event.
The proposed route travels south from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park into Surrey and takes in much of the Olympic road race course. A maximum of 75,000 places are available.
Ride London 100 is part of a wider cycling festival taking place over August 3-4 2013 and launched by Mayor of London Boris Johnson last month.
As well as the 100-mile ride, there is a more family-friendly event comprising an eight mile route on closed roads in central London. Up to 70,000 people are expected to take part.
Along with the mass-participation rides, there will also be a couple of races. The elite-level Ride London Classic, like the 100-mile ride, takes in the majority of the Olympic road race circuit and the circuit-based Ride London Grand Prix is open to elite women, juniors and hand cyclists.
"Londoners are cycling in record numbers and helped by a raft of improvements there are now more than half a million journeys made by bike every day," said Johnson.
"The inspirational performances of British road and track cyclists this summer have done even more to encourage people to get on their bike, as the fantastic demand for RideLondon is showing.
"This cycling festival will have something for everyone, the lycra-clad professionals, the daily commuter, and families on a fun day out. What's more, Ride London is a living legacy of our glorious summer by utilising our wonderful Olympic Park."
The Ride London festival will be the first sporting legacy event held at the converted London 2012 Olympic Park. The event is co-organised by the company behind the Tour of Britain, Sweetspot, and the organisers of the annual London marathon, the London Marathon Limited.
Organisers are hoping that the Ride London Classic race will be allocated a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) ranking to attract a top-level international start-list. Confirmation of the event's UCI ranking is expected later in September.
Related links
Ride London Olympic cycling legacy event launched
External link
Ride London website
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