Australian motorsport ace Mark Webber has confirmed he will take part in this year’s Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100.
The ex-Formula 1 star, who twice won the British Grand Prix and is back at Silverstone this weekend (8-10 July) as part of the Channel 4 presenting team for the 2016 race, is riding for the London Youth charity.
Webber, 39, will be riding alongside more F1 royalty in the shape of Paul and Dylan Stewart, the son and grandson of Jackie Stewart.
This year’s Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 takes place on Sunday 31 July and Webber can’t wait to take part.
He said: “I enjoy my cycling so I’m definitely looking forward to the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100, it’s a really good course. I hear there are some great people taking part, but crucially it’s the spirit of the event that’s the most important thing.
“Cycling these roads while they’re closed is a unique opportunity for all of us. Here’s to a tail wind for everyone.”
Webber leads another glittering array of stars from both the sporting and entertainment worlds who will be taking on this year’s Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100.
There is a big musical theme to this year’s celebrities led by RnB star Lemar.
The London-based singer-songwriter, who has sold more than two million albums to date, made his name in the first series of Fame Academy. He has also had seven top 10 UK singles and won two BRIT awards and three MOBO awards.
Another musical product of reality TV is 2013 X-Factor winner Sam Bailey who returns to take on the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 for a second year.
Sam, who is riding for the charity Sparks, is currently starring as Matron “Mama” Morton in the touring version of the West End smash musical Chicago.
Finally, popular radio DJ and TV presenter Jo Whiley will be swapping the BBC Radio 2 studios for the fresh air of the London and Surrey roads.
Jo is one of the nation’s most-loved DJs having spent nearly 18 years on BBC Radio 1 and is also a regular face on the BBC’s annual Glastonbury coverage.
She will be the riding the new Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46 - also taking place on Sunday 31 July - designed as a first mass participation sportive for novice cyclists.
Joining Jo on the Start Line of the 46 will be double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes who, fresh from running the Virgin Money London Marathon in April, has moved on to her next challenge in her bid to raise money for five charities.
Dame Kelly won’t be the only Olympic gold medallist taking part at Prudential RideLondon, with two champion rowers on the Start Line of the 100.
Mark Hunter won a gold in the lightweight double sculls in Beijing in 2008 and then a silver four years later in London, while Tim Foster was part of the gold medal-winning coxless fours crew in Sydney 2000. Mark is riding for SportsAid and Tim for Sparks.
Other distinguished sportsmen riding the 100 include England’s World Cup winning rugby captain Martin Johnson and former England cricket captain Allan Lamb.
Comedian Hugh Dennis, start of Outnumbered and Mock the Week, is riding for ActionAid while Dr Dawn Harper, who co-presents Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies, will also be pedalling the 100 miles for LBC’s charity Global’s Make Some Noise.
Other celebrity riders include: Stefan Booth (actor, Hollyoaks), Colin Charvis (former Wales rugby union captain) and Michelle Dewberry (former winner of The Apprentice).
The full list of celebrity riders is available here.
The organisers of the weekend festival of cycling will deliver an extensive community engagement programme with the support of TfL, the London boroughs on the route and Surrey County Council to help residents and businesses along the route plan ahead. This will include pre-awareness campaign posters on the transport network, a series of customer information emails and a leaflet drop in July to 1 million+ residents and businesses along the route. Information on travel disruption and advice will be available on www.tfl.gov.uk/ridelondon. To avoid delays over the event weekend, all drivers are advised to avoid areas near the event routes.