Thousands of professional and amateur cyclists will speed through London and Surrey as part of an Olympic legacy cycle race today.

People are being urged to plan ahead as road and bridge closures will come into place for the Mayor of London’s cycling festival, Prudential RideLondon, on Sunday, August 4.

A large number of roads will be closed along the route and river crossings will be shut to traffic from 5am to make way for the 100 mile cycling events.

Bus services will also be affected and Richmond Park will be closed to traffic the whole day.

Councillor Pamela Fleming, Richmond’s cabinet member for community, business and culture, said: “Prudential RideLondon will be a fantastic event and I hope that thousands of residents come and support the many cyclists that are raising money for charities.

“However, I know that there will be a few people who are concerned that the borough will be difficult to travel around due to the event.

“We are not closing anywhere near as many roads, so the borough should be relatively easy to travel around.

“But, there will be pockets of the borough and in our neighbouring boroughs that will be impacted, so we encourage all residents to double check the route map before making their journey.”

Full details of road closures are available at tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/27647.aspx.

WHERE TO WATCH:

People hoping to catch the cyclists in action are also advised to plan their journey in advance and to arrive at viewing points early.

Cyclists in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 are expected to cross Chiswick Bridge and then pass through Sheen and Richmond Park between 6.40am and 10am.

They will then reach Hampton Court Road between 7am and 10.20am.

Later in the day 150 of the world’s best professional cyclists will compete in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic, on a route similar to the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Road Race.

The elite riders will race along the same route as the amateurs in the Richmond area, passing through Sheen and Richmond Park between 1.20pm and 1:35pm and will reach Hampton Court Road between 1.35pm and 1.50pm.

 

HAMPTON WICK FESTIVAL

Vintage cars, circus performers, Tudor costumed figures, live bands, BBQs and a gorilla with a sidecar will ride down Hampton Wick High Street to celebrate RideLondon.

The Hampton Wick Association (HWA) has taken the opportunity to create a community event for families to enjoy and to help businesses make up any potential loss of trade due to the closures.

The festival will start from 10am and will include a street party at the Foresters, craft market at the Swan, breakfast baps and live music at the Old Kings Head and live performances outside the White Hart.

The highlight of the day will be a grand parade, which will see scouts, schools, charities, community groups and musicians march along the high street from Old Bridge Street at 12.30pm.

Mark Buckley of HWA said: “Not only is the high street closed to traffic giving us a great, safe space for the festival, but also it’s a fantastic place to see the cyclists coming across Kingston Bridge so we’re expecting lots of people.”

For more information visit hwfestival.org.uk.