More than 15,000 amateur cyclists finished the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 on Sunday making it the biggest cycling event ever held in the UK.

Thousands of spectators lined the streets of Surrey inspiring the riders as they pedalled round the gruelling 100-mile circuit, which began in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and finished in Pall Mall.

The riders passed through Box Hill village and Headley Heath, Leatherhead and through Cobham before heading into London for the finish.

The majority of the riders finished within eight hours with winner Wladimiro D’Ascenzo, from Italy, completing the course a shade under four and a quarter hours.

Gil Towsend, 67, from Worcester Park, and his daughter Laura, 31, from Clapham, completed the ride in 6 hours 38 minutes, for The Children’s Trust, in Tadworth.

Ms Townsend said she and her father are "keen cyclists" and have so far raised £1,100, and £900 respectively.

She said: "A lot of people were fighting their way up Leith Hill and Box Hill, very few people were walking it which is what I expected."

Surrey County Council leader David Hodge said: "From Big Ben to Box Hill, this was an extraordinary spectacle.

"It was wonderful to see cyclists both young and old conquering climbs and winding their way through Surrey’s beautiful countryside while being urged on by many thousands of people lining the road."

Alison Wilks, Faye Gunner, Ron Howe and Andy Bircher, from Mole Valley Council, cycled 25 miles each in the RideLondon-Surry challenge.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson completed the race some six and a half hours behind the leaders.

He said: "I was a sloth a lot of the way. I wouldn’t say it was a piece of cake but once we cracked Leith Hill I knew it was going to be okay.

"We are definitely going to see this again next year, whether you see me take part in it again next year is to be decided."

Surrey police confirmed no arrests were made at the event.

The ballot for next year’s Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100, to be held on August 9-10 next year, opens online at www.PrudentialRideLondon.co.uk on Monday, August 12.

 

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