Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) headlines this year’s line-up for the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic on Sunday August 10.
Cavendish will bid for victory on The Mall on the back of the Tour de France and Commonwealth Games, with Omega Pharma-Quickstep one of 25 teams set for the race.
It will be the second running of the event, which Arnaud Demare (FDJ.fr) won last year, and is the third UCI-classified race on the British calendar after Rutland-Melton and the Beaumont Trophy.
And the Manx Missile is relishing the prospect of racing in front of the British fans.
He said: “I’m excited to be riding in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic for the first time this year.
“It’s another opportunity to race in front of the amazing crowds in Britain. Coming after the Tour de France and Commonwealth Games, more and more people are going to be at the roadside cheering us on and wanting to be a part of the weekend.
“The whole event just shows the growth of cycling in Britain, so it will be great to be a part of it with my Omega Pharma Quick-Step team.
“We know it’s a challenging route, but we also know it’s one that can end in a sprint finish, which should suit the team and me.”
This year’s race, rated 1.HC by the UCI, has been given a slight makeover, with the 200km course including two climbs through Denbies Vineyard and the ascent of Staple Lane – part of the Olympic road race route.
Rolling out of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and finishing on The Mall, the race will conclude the Prudential RideLondon Festival of Cycling, which takes places over the whole weekend.
More details of the teams and riders set to compete in the elite men’s race will be confirmed in due time, but race director Mick Bennett is pleased to have Cavendish on board.
“We are delighted to welcome Mark Cavendish and his Omega Pharma Quick-Step team to the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic,” he said.
“The fact that he and his team have chosen to ride the event, and our elevation to Hors Categorie status for 2014, underlines Prudential RideLondon’s status as the world’s greatest festival of cycling.”
