RideLondon Classique

RideLondon Classique is a women's cycle stage race held in Essex and London as part of the UCI Women's World Tour. Part of the RideLondon cycling festival, the race was originally held as a one-day race in central London, and became a stage race in 2022 following the demise of the London–Surrey Classic.

RideLondon Classique
Race details
DateMay
RegionEssex and London
DisciplineRoad
CompetitionUCI Women's World Tour
TypeStage race
OrganiserLondon Marathon Events
Race directorScott Sunderland
Web sitewww.ridelondon.co.uk/the-classique
History
First edition2013
Editions8 (as of 2023)
First winner Laura Trott (GBR)
Most wins Kirsten Wild (NED) (2)
 Lorena Wiebes (NED) (2)
Most recent Charlotte Kool (NED)

History

First held in 2013, the RideLondon festival was designed as an annual legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The format consists of a series of cycling events on closed roads for amateur cyclists and professionals.[1] The professional men's event - London–Surrey Classic - ran from 2013 to 2019, on a course utilising the Surrey Hills.

As part of the festival, a professional women's event (originally the RideLondon Grand Prix) was held on a central London circuit, with the finish line on The Mall. In 2016, the race was added to the UCI Women's World Tour, was renamed the RideLondon Classique, and gained an identical €100,000 prize fund to the London–Surrey Classic - making it the richest one-day race in the women's calendar.[2] Due to the flat, short circuit in central London, the race often culminated in a sprint finish on The Mall.[3][4] Both the 2020 and 2021 editions of the race were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

Following the withdrawal of title sponsor Prudential and Surrey County Council,[6][7] it was announced that RideLondon would become a one-day event in central London from 2022 - with a 3-day elite women's race as the new main event.[8] In March 2021, a 10 year partnership with London Marathon Events to stage the event was agreed,[9] and in November 2021, an agreement with Essex County Council was announced.[10][11] In February 2022, the full route of the 3 day event was revealed - with 2 stages in Essex and a final circuit stage in central London.[12]

The 2022 event was criticised for not providing live TV coverage for all three stages as required for inclusion in the UCI Women's World Tour[13] - with the UCI warning that the 2023 event would be demoted to the UCI ProSeries if stages were not broadcast on live television.[14] The race retained its World Tour status for 2023 after the organisers provided the UCI with evidence that stages would have the required live TV coverage (All three stages were live streamed via Eurosport GCN & BBC iPlayer).[15]

Winners
Year Name Stages Rider Team
2013 RideLondon Grand Prix 1  Laura Trott (GBR)[16] Wiggle Honda
2014 1  Giorgia Bronzini (ITA)[17] Wiggle Honda
2015 1  Barbara Guarischi (ITA)[18] Velocio-SRAM
2016 RideLondon Classique 1  Kirsten Wild (NED)[19] Team Hitec Products
2017 1  Coryn Rivera (USA)[20] Team Sunweb
2018 1  Kirsten Wild (NED)[4] Wiggle High5
2019 1  Lorena Wiebes (NED)[3] Parkhotel Valkenburg
2020 No race due to the COVID-19 pandemic[5]
2021
2022 3  Lorena Wiebes (NED)[21] Team DSM
2023 3  Charlotte Kool (NED)[22] Team DSM

References
  1. "Ride London gives Boris Johnson new spin on capital's cycling appeal". the Guardian. 4 August 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  2. "Wild disqualified in RideLondon Classique". BBC Sport. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2022. the richest one-day event on the women's circuit with a prize of 100,000 euros (£91,500)
  3. "Video: Kirsten Wild loses Prudential RideLondon Classique 'victory' after huge crash". road.cc. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  4. Knöfler, Lukas (28 July 2018). "Prudential RideLondon Classique 2018: Results". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  5. "Covid-19: RideLondon cycling festival cancelled for second year". BBC News. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  6. "RideLondon looking for new headline sponsor from next year". road.cc. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  7. SCC (16 October 2020). "Surrey to focus on more local community-led sporting events". Surrey News. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  8. Jones, Amy (8 June 2021). "RideLondon Classique extends to three days on 2022 Women's WorldTour". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  9. "New look RideLondon for spring 2022 as TfL confirms new partnership with London Marathon Events Limited". Transport for London. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  10. "RideLondon". RideLondon. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  11. "RideLondon set to return in May 2022". BikeBiz. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  12. "Full route for RideLondon-Essex revealed". www.essex.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  13. Knöfler, Lukas (30 May 2022). "Teams and riders dissatisfied with lack of live coverage at RideLondon Classique". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  14. Ronald, Issy (17 June 2022). "RideLondon Classique stripped of WorldTour status for limited live TV". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  15. Frattini, Kirsten (1 October 2022). "RideLondon keeps Women's WorldTour status despite failing to meet live TV requirements". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  16. "Laura Trott wins Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix". cyclingweekly.com. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  17. "Prudential RideLondon Classic 2014: Women's Grand Prix Results". cyclingnews.com. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  18. Frattini, Kirsten (1 August 2015). "Prudential RideLondon Classic 2015: RideLondon Grand Prix Results". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  19. "Kirsten Wild takes RideLondon Classique with clinical surge". the Guardian. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  20. "Prudential RideLondon Classique 2017: Results". cyclingnews.com. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  21. "Wiebes completes RideLondon clean sweep". BBC Sport. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  22. "RideLondon Classique: Charlotte Kool wins with Lizzie Deignan third". BBC Sport. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
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