Team Sky will be one of eight UCI WorldTour teams tackling the 2014 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic next month, after organisers unveiled a top class team line-up for this year’s race.
Now rated 1.HC by the UCI, the race has attracted a strong field of teams with Omega Pharma-Quickstep, Giant-Shimano and Orica-GreenEDGE among those set to join Sky on the start line on Sunday August 10.
Belkin Pro Cycling, BMC Racing, Garmin-Sharp and Cannondale will also field six-man teams, as will Tour de France starters Bretagne-Seche Environnement and Team NetApp-Endura.
Britain’s five UCI Continental teams – NFTO, Node4-Velosure, Madison-Genesis, Rapha Condor JLT and Team Raleigh – will also start the race alongside Irish team An Post Chain Reaction.
MTN-Qhubeka, Team Colombia and Synergy Baku – who could field Irishman Matt Brammeier – have also been granted a place for the one-day race.
Arnaud Demare (FDJ.fr) won last year’s event but the French team will not return this time out.
However, Giant-Shimano – who have already earned success on The Mall this year when Marcel Kittel blasted to Tour de France stage three success – will be keen for a repeat of last year’s bunch sprint.
However, organiser Mick Bennett, who is also race director of the Tour of Britain, believes a much smaller group could be contesting the stage win, after changes made to the route.
He said: “We have attracted a strong line-up and an excellent combination of teams, some of whom will be working towards a sprint finish while others will be looking to animate the race and ride aggressively.
“This year’s route changes, with the double climb up to Ranmore Common, will favour a more aggressive strategy and mean the race is not certain to come back together as a bunch sprint on The Mall.
“Following the Tour de France and Commonwealth Games, interest in cycling has never been higher and the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic is another chance for fans to get close to the world’s top teams.”
The Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic is part of the Mayor of London’s festival of cycling, with the men’s elite race, which will be broadcast live on BBC1, starting at 1.00pm on Sunday August 10.
RideLondon-Surrey Classic teams 2014
UCI Pro Teams
Belkin Pro Cycling (NED)
BMC Racing (USA)
Cannondale Pro Cycling (ITA)
Garmin-Sharp (USA)
Omega Pharma-Quickstep (BEL)
Orica-GreenEDGE (AUS)
Team Giant-Shimano (NED)
Team Sky (GBR)
UCI Pro Continental
Bretagne-Seche Environnement (FRA)
Colombia (COL)
MTN-Qhubeka (RSA)
Team NetApp-Endura (GER)
Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise (BEL)
Wanty-Groupe Gobert (BEL)
UCI Continental
AN Post Chain Reaction (IRL)
Madison-Genesis (GBR)
NFTO Pro Cycling (GBR)
Node4-Velosure (GBR)
Rapha Condor JLT (GBR)
Synergy Baku Cycling Project (AZE)
Team 3M (BEL)
Team La Pomme Marseille 13 (FRA)
Team Raleigh (GBR)
Vastgoedservice-Golden Palace (BEL)
National teams
Great Britain
