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.
The race saw thousands of spectators line the streets of Wimbledon as riders pedalled round the gruelling 100-mile circuit, which began in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and finished in Pall Mall.
Thousands of fans packed into Wimbledon’s town centre to celebrate the Prudential RideLondon coming through Merton with a bicycle themed street party organised by Love Wimbledon.
Wimbledon Hill Road was dressed with multi-coloured bunting, flags and balloons, and visitors were entertained by a live steel band and a ‘Bicycle Ballet’ performance.
Elys contributed face painters, balloon twisters and a pop-corn cart, Gina Conway Aveda Spa treated visitors to free massages and give-aways while Action Bikes and Evans Cycles gave away free cycling goodies.
Helen Clark Bell, Love Wimbledon’s manager said: "Throughout the day we had a couple of thousand people sharing the excitement of the day in the heart of Wimbledon.
"Cyclists were welcomed with a burst of colour and sound when they rode through Wimbledon town centre and made their way back through Wimbledon Village.
"It was fantastic to work with local businesses and to play our part in the first annual Olympic legacy cycling event.’ The riders raced along Worple Road, up Wimbledon Hill and along Parkside before heading into central London for the finish.
The majority of the riders finished within eight hours but winner Wladimiro D’Ascenzo, from Italy, completed the course a shade under four and a quarter hours.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson also completed the race, some six and a half hours behind the leaders.
He said: "I was a sloth a lot of the way.
"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.
"It is a gradual step and the most important thing is to encourage people to cycle by making it safer."
Hugh Brasher, Prudential RideLondon's event director said the event was "legacy in action".
He said: "It just shows the huge appetite there is in this country for cycling of all types and levels, from families and recreational riders, to commuters and professionals racers."
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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