Mark Cavendish and Sir Bradley Wiggins are just two of the big names who will be chasing victory in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic on Sunday 2 August, as the richest one-day professional road race in the world returns to the British capital.
Even without German sprinter André Greipel, forced to pull out this week with a knee injury, the third edition of the Category 1.HC race is expected to live up to its reputation as one of the most hotly contested on the UCI cycling calendar.
Cavendish, who’s making his first appearance at RideLondon, will certainly carry form from the Tour de France. His win on stage seven was proof that the ‘Manx missile’ still has the firepower to perform in a bunch sprint, and without Greipel in the line-up he will be a formidable force for his Etixx – Quick-Step team should the peloton stay together on the run-in to The Mall.
Londoner Wiggins, whose attention has turned towards the track since leaving Sky, will be looking to make his mark with his own Team Wiggins outfit of young riders built around the 2012 Tour de France winner’s preparations for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio.
Wiggins rode with Sky last year, helping to put 2014 runner-up Ben Swift in with a chance of victory, and is delighted to be back this year supporting what he calls the “serious young talent” in his team, such as Owain Doull and Chris Lawless.
Adam Blythe’s thrilling victory in last year’s race won him a WorldTour contract with Australian team Orica-GreenEDGE and the Sheffield rider now forms a crucial part of their lead-out train. He is likely to be tasked with supporting sprinter Caleb Ewan, rather than targeting the win himself.
Swift, who was pipped to the line by Blythe last year, rides the Classic for a third time. The Team Sky rider is returning to fitness after a shoulder injury but with next month’s Tour of Poland in his sights, he is likely to be in good form.
The undulating 200km race through the scenic Surrey Hills, is well suited to one-day classic specialists, such as former world road race champion Philippe Gilbert of BMC Racing Team who made an impressive return to winning ways at the Grand Prix Cerami in Belgium earlier in this month. Gilbert will be supported by Australian time trial specialist Rohan Dennis, who crushed his rivals in stage one of the Tour de France last month.
Sep Vanmarcke from LottoNL-Jumbo could also be a contender given the nature of the route.