Developed by the Mayor of London and his agencies in 2013, Prudential RideLondon is a world-class festival of cycling, and is a legacy from the 2012 London Olympic Games, in it’s 5th year in 2017.
The Grand Prix road races for boys and girls in under 14 and under 16 age categories are on the opening day of “the world’s greatest festival of cycling” with the Prudential RideLondon Classique, the women’s pro race and the Brompton World Championships on Saturday, and the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic, the men’s pro race on Sunday, both part of the UCI World Tour and attracting the world’s top cyclists. Amateur cyclists are also able to tackle the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 and 46 mile routes, on the same closed roads as the professional men. There is also a day of traffic free London, with 10 miles of closed roads for all to enjoy on the Saturday.
The Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix
The first winner of the afternoon was Natalie Bloomer of London, who finished just ahead of Rosie Finucane of Wales and Izzy Brickell of South region in 44:40 to take the U14 Girls race and claim the first of a clean sweep of victories for the London region.
In the U14 boys, Rahul Fortescue Talwar represented PPYCC in the South East Regional Team, along with Lance Chlds and Jack Hill of Thanet, and Joe Blackmore of Herne Hill CC. It was a very close race, with the top 22 riders all finishing within one second of each other. Billy Gilbey from London took the win in the tight bunch finish, closely followed by Tom Sharples of Eastern region and Innes Harvey of London in second and third respectively. Lance missed out on a top ten finish with 11 th place in 46:17, Rahul finished 18th overall in 46:18, narrowly missing the only crash of the day in the final (fast and furious and very tight) sprint, which involved his team mate, Joe Blackmore. Luckily all involved escaped with grazes and managed to finish over the line.
Rahul in the middle of the peloton, U14 boys
The U16 Girls race, was won by Kate Wootton of London, an Olympic Development Apprentice, who saw off the challenge of British national champion Emma Finucane in another close finish, with Eve Barrow of Eastern region and Danielle Parker from Wales finishing second and third.
In the U16’s boys, the South East had 2 teams, with PPYCC well represented by Tom Pughe Morgan and Finn Anderson Grout, along with second claim member George Pittock, in the 4 man team, and Adam Churchill and Luca Stone riding with VCL rider George Sloan in the second U16 boys team.
Adam Churchill, in turquoise of the 2nd U16 boys SE Region team, at the head of the race
George Pittock was one of a number of riders who attacked off the front of the U16 Boys
race, but the winner Finley Newmark made his move down the outside on the final straight
to finish ahead of fellow Londoner Louis Bilyard, with George Mills-Keeling of the West
Midlands in third. Adam rode strongly in the peloton, finishing 15th and George 18th in the biggest field of the day (53 riders) both riders just one second behind the winner. Luca finished 36th, with Finn 40th. Unfortunately Tom was involved in an incident in the final sprint, and was pushed on to the grass, slowing him down considerably before he managed to get back on to the track, finishing 50th overall.
Finn (above) and George (below) in the fastest and largest race of the day
Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle
PPYCC was represented by rider Stan Wilson, and his dad, PPYCC volunteer Paul, on the 8 miles of closed roads on Saturday!
Stan and Paul on the streets of London!
Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100
Again, PPYCC had representation in this fantastic, 100 mile sportive, with volunteers Alison Lewis, Ed and Vicky Raynard (Archies’s parents!), Duncan Churchill (Adam’s dad!) and Kim (Rahul’s mum!) all completing the 100 mile ride on Sunday. Well done to everyone on an epic ride!
Duncan and Kim ready to set off on the 100 mile ride!