News – Vos & Armitstead at RideLondon

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Two years after their memorable battle during the Olympic Games in London Marianne Vos and Lizzie Armitstead return to The Mall in the Prudential RideLondon Women’s Grand Prix on Saturday 9 August

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News – Vos & Armitstead at RideLondon

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• Olympic gold and silver medallists return to The Mall
• Trott to defend Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix title
• Race to be broadcast live on BBC

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Marianne Vos and Lizzie Armitstead sprinting it out in the Women’s Tour

Two years on from their memorable battle during the Olympic Games in London, world and Olympic champion Marianne Vos (NED) and current UCI World Cup leader Lizzie Armitstead (GBR) return to The Mall in the Prudential RideLondon Women’s Grand Prix on Saturday 9 August, part of the Mayor of London’s multi-award winning festival of cycling.

Vos, winner of the inaugural Women’s Tour in May, returns to Britain with her Rabo Liv team to headline a star-studded entry for the criterium race which will be broadcast live on BBC 2.

“I am very much looking forward to the Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix,” said Vos. “I haven’t been back to London since 2012 so I’m really looking forward to getting back out there and racing on the roads of London. It’s also a good showcase for women’s cycling, especially with the coverage on the BBC. It’s a stage to show women’s cycling to all of the people in the UK.”

Joining her on the central London start line at 17:00 will be Boels Dolmans rider Lizzie Armitstead, whose silver behind Vos at London 2012 was Team GB’s first medal of the Games.

“I’m really looking forward to taking part in this year’s Prudential RideLondon and am particularly excited about racing on The Mall again for the first time since 2012,” said Armitstead. “It’s always going to have special memories for me after winning my Olympic silver there in 2012 and the crowds in London are always special.

“This year, we’ve got so many great races, like the Women’s Tour and La Course, and now with live television coverage for the Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix it shows that women’s cycling is only going to get bigger and bigger.”

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Double Olympic champion Laura Trott (GBR), who won her first British title on the road last month at the National Championships, returns to defend the title she won last year, just a week after competing in the Commonwealth Games. Hannah Barnes (GBR), runner-up to Trott in 2013, is also back to chase a place on the podium.

The quartet are among the 80-rider field that will battle it out during the 45-minute race around the 1.3mile route in and around St James’s Park, finishing on The Mall where Vos beat Armitstead for gold in the 2012 Olympic Games Road Race.

Trott will line up with several of her Wiggle Honda teammates while Barnes is now racing at the world level with the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team.

The US-based Specialized Lululemon team will also enter a team, taking on the very best of the British domestic scene, includes entries from Matrix Fitness-Vulpine, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International, Team MuleBar Girl-Sigma Sport and Starley Primal, with newly crowned national criterium champion Eileen Roe.

With live television coverage, a world-class field and iconic route, the Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix will be another major boost for women’s cycling, in a year that has already seen a highly successful first ever Women’s Tour and is soon to witness the first La Course women’s race by the Tour de France organisers. UCI President Brian Cookson has identified the development and support of women’s cycling as a priority for the UCI and says “I believe that 2014 will be remembered as a breakout year for women’s cycling.”

The women’s race will be followed by the action-packed Prudential RideLondon Youths Grand Prix, which features a new inter-regional format in 2014. Each of the British regions has been invited to enter a team of girls and a team of boys to give the cycling stars of the future the opportunity to perform on this amazing route

Green Park is one of the main Festival Zones for the festival weekend and will be open from 09:00 to 18:00 on Saturday 9 August with a wide range of bike-based entertainment. Attractions include:
• Big screen and stage with all-day entertainment
• Ramp & Try Out Park with BMX and mountain-bike demos and workshops
• Lee Valley VeloPark Challenge – a virtual try out of the Olympic Velodrome with spot prizes
• 200m mountain bike course for beginners and advanced riders
• Go Ride racing with coaches from British Cycling
• Balance Bike challenge for kids aged 18 months to five years
• Transport for London’s cycling hub – offering sample cycle training sessions, bike security marking and information on cycling in London
• Superhero zone with facepainting, graffiti wall and entertainers
• Customise-your-tabard zone with paints and glitter
• Bling-Your-Bike zone with all sorts of accessories to customise a bike
• Tabard signing by stars of the cycling world and other celebrities
• Outdoor games including giant Jenga, Connect Four, table football and more
• Cycle Food Court with healthy food options

An extensive communications campaign is already underway to help businesses and the public plan and get around on the day, as well as make the most of the events over the weekend. Since May, information has been sent to more than 1 million residents and businesses along and close to the event routes to help them plan ahead – further information will follow this month. A series of public information sessions are being held in the affected areas to provide details of the temporary changes in place and to offer residents and businesses the opportunity to ask questions.

Information on travel disruption and advice is available on www.tfl.gov.uk/prudentialridelondon and www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk . To avoid delays, wherever possible all drivers are advised to avoid areas near the event routes.

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