Kingston Takes Centre Stage for Handcycling At Ride London

PRESS RELEASE

• Fifth event added to Prudential RideLondon

• Handcycle event to start at Kingston

• Kingston to host family-friendly festival for great day out

The Prudential RideLondon Handcycle Classic, part of the Mayor of London’s multi-award winning festival of cycling, will start at Kingston upon Thames on Sunday 10 August.

It becomes the fifth event within the world’s largest festival of cycling. Last year, the handcycle event was part of the series of Grand Prix criterium races in St James’s Park on the Saturday evening.

A field of up to 50 elite handcyclists, including top names from Paralympic sport, will line up on the start line in Kingston’s Ancient Market Place at 0830 on Sunday 10 August to race over a 15 mile route through the capital to finish in spectacular style on The Mall.

“Kingston is a key part of the route for Prudential RideLondon with the riders in the mass participation event and the men’s professional race passing through twice,” said Event Director Hugh Brasher. “Making the handcycling an event in its own right and moving it to Kingston means we offer the athletes a more testing challenge and make Kingston a central focus of the events on Sunday 10 August.”

“Kingston is proud to be hosting this event and to be at the heart of some great cycling action once again,” said Councillor David Glasspool, Kingston Council’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Heritage, Tourism and Leisure. “People will see Kingston at its best as we welcome Prudential RideLondon to our streets. Kingston town centre will be open for business as usual on 10 August with a family-friendly bike festival creating a carnival atmosphere for residents and visitors.”

As well as lining the route to cheer on the riders, people will be able to pull up a deck chair and watch the action on a giant screen, visit a cycling exhibition featuring the best international and independent cycling brands, and make the most of all that Kingston’s variety of shops, restaurants, bars, cafes and market stalls has to offer.

All car parks in Kingston town centre will be open as usual on 10 August, although access may be different due to road closures. Check www.kingston.gov.uk nearer the time.

“This event is amazing,” says Walter Ablinger (Austria), winner of the 2013 Prudential RideLondon Handcycle race. “I will never forget winning in front of Buckingham Palace with thousands of spectators cheering us on. I’m very excited to hear the plans for this year and I’m really looking forward to lining up on the start line in Kingston on 10 August.”

The Prudential RideLondon Handcycle Classic will take place during the same road closure window that was originally planned for Sunday 10 August and does not involve any additional road closures.

An extensive communications campaign is already underway to help businesses and the public plan and get around on the day, as well as make the most of the events over the weekend. Since May, information has been sent to more than 1 million+ residents and businesses along and close to the event routes to help them plan ahead – further information will follow in July. A series of public information sessions are being held in the affected areas to provide details of the temporary changes in place and to offer residents and businesses the opportunity to ask questions. Information on travel disruption and advice is available on www.tfl.gov.uk/prudentialridelondon. To avoid delays, wherever possible all drivers are advised to avoid areas near the event routes.