SOME of the world’s best riders will be battling it out in a new and exciting festival of cycling this weekend.

Wheels were set in motion by keen cyclist and Mayor of London Boris Johnson, London & Partners and Transport for London in partnership with Surrey County Council for Prudential RideLondon, which takes off on Saturday and Sunday (August 4).

Four sessions of speed are being held, with Woking roads very much in the mix once more. The three-year partnership with Prudential is aiming to develop the annual cycling festival into a world-class event and realise a lasting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is anticipated that thousands of people will be inspired to take up regular cycling as a result.

RideLondon-Surrey Classic:

Eight squads from this year’s Tour de France will feature in the inaugural classic where the world’s greats will battle it out for pole position on Sunday. The event will see 150 top cyclists swing by Old Woking, Pyrford, and West Byfleet competing to win the 140-mile race. Starting in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and following part of the Olympic road race route through Surrey, classic race director Mick Bennett, said: “The route, which includes three circuits of Leith Hill, has been a big draw with the BBC and international TV.”

Team NetApp Endura will include Scott Thwaites, Johnny McEvoy and Erick Rowsell, who will be racing on home roads in Surrey.

RideLondon-Surrey 100:

A chance to rise to the 100-mile challenge through London and Surrey or watch others doing so is also on the Sunday, with around 20,000 riders taking on the gruelling route.

RideLondon FreeCycle:

Up to 50,000 people could be taking part in an eight-mile central London route on closed roads on the Saturday.

RideLondon Grand Prix:

Experience the excitement of criterium racing in the heart of the capital. This city centre loop will provide a focus for professional women cyclist, and youth and hand cyclists on Saturday.

Road closures will be in operation to ensure a safe race on Sunday.

The vast majority of the route will be delivered under a temporary rolling closure, enforced by police and the National Escort Group, the same team who worked on the Olympic road races last summer.

A total of 62 motorbikes will initiate and maintain the closures as the race approaches.

Delays for motorists will last between 10 minutes and half an hour.

Once all the cyclists have passed through the area, roads will re-open.

However, the race necessitates that longer roads be completely shutdown for an extended period. As a result, Coldharbour Road, connecting Pyrford with West Byfleet via Old Woking Road, will close at 11am ahead of the race’s estimated arrival time of 12.50pm.

Organisers say the roads will be cleared and re-opened as soon as it is safe to do so.

Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for transport, highways and environment, said: “The events will bring significant economic and sporting benefits to the county and, with a bit of preparation, we can all help to make everything run smoothly.”

For more information on the Prudential RideLondon events, visit www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk call 0845 894 9773, or send an email to [email protected]