'The weather has beaten us this time': riders forced to turn back as storm batters top UK ultra-cycling event London-Edinburgh-London

Only one rider had reached the Scottish capital when London-Edinburgh-London fell victim to Storm Floris

Riders in London-Edinburgh-London 2025
(Image credit: Fergus Coyle)

Danial Webb stands front of shot, behind him a dark, moorland vista. The light is low, the cloud is heavy, and most of all the wind is howling.

He attempts to impart a short message to those watching, a message that grows increasingly hard to catch.

"...top of Yad Moss… some really strong winds happening at the moment… gusts of around… see my lanyard going…"

Only one person – Ian McBride – had actually reached Edinburgh.

But the riders have not been sent home – far from it. Most were back out on the road Tuesday morning and pedalling south, back towards the London start HQ, where they will receive a finishing medal for completing what the organisers describe as 'the event as it was run this year', even if they did not reach Edinburgh.

"We’re sorry that the weather has beaten us this time but rider safety is paramount and can not be compromised."

Another wrote: "The right decision - excellent leadership LEL…" – a sentiment backed up by many.

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After cutting his teeth on local and national newspapers, James began at Cycling Weekly as a sub-editor in 2000 when the current office was literally all fields.

Eventually becoming chief sub-editor, in 2016 he switched to the job of full-time writer, and covers news, racing and features.

He has worked at a variety of races, from the Classics to the Giro d'Italia – and this year will be his seventh Tour de France.

A lifelong cyclist and cycling fan, James's racing days (and most of his fitness) are now behind him. But he still rides regularly, both on the road and on the gravelly stuff.

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