Prudential RideLondon 2016 route map: Where to watch and key details of all six events in this weekend’s festival of cycling
This year's Prudential RideLondon promises to be bigger and better than ever before.
Stretching across three days for the first time, the festival of cycling features a fresh event created specifically for newer riders who are expected to contribute to a record 100,000 cyclists taking part across the weekend.
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If you're not one of those on a saddle but still want to get involved, we've detailed the best places to watch.
Where you can watch
Friday
Scot Danny MacAskill is one of the world's most renowned trials riders (Source: Getty)
RideLondon kicks off on Friday for the first time this year when a crew of BMXers, including daredevil trials cyclist Danny MacAskill, at Lee Valley VeloPark in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Entry is free and the action runs until 20.30 at night. Get there by 19.45 to catch the finals of a competition specifically for young BMX-obssessed boy and girl racers aged between eight and 13 which offers up to £600 to the winning team.
Saturday
Rise & Shine: London FreeCycle starts at 09.00 (Source: Getty)
The FreeCycle; RideLondon's famous, open-to-everyone stroll through a shutdown central London starts on at 9.00am on Saturday morning.
Registration is now closed, but early risers can watch the proceedings from all good London sightseeing spots; Waterloo Bridge, the Bank of England, St. Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, the Strand and the Mall.
"Festival zones" with entertainments and activities will be present at Green Park, Aldwych, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Guildhall Festival, Leadenhall Market, St. Paul's and Southbank.
In the evening the top 20 women's racing teams in the world – including Britain's former RideLondon Grand Prix winner Giorgia Bronzini – converge on The Mall in St James's Park at 5pm for the Classique, the richest one day race in the history of women's cycling with a winner's prize of €25,000.
The 5.5km circuit race passes through Big Ben, Whitehall, the Strand and Trafalgar Square where spectators can watch from the side of the street until the race finishes at around 18.45.
Alternatively, if you don't fancy the crowds, you can watch from home on BBC 2.
For light relief, stick around in St. James's Park for 19.15 when over 500 riders of varying ability and outfits take part in the eight-lap circuit Brompton World Championship race on their foldable bikes.
Sunday
Team Sky's Geraint Thomas is one of the men in action this weekend (Source: Getty)
Sunday is when the serious distance races gets started.
At the crack of dawn – 06.00 to be precise – 25,000 riders will set off from the Olympic Park for the London-Surrey 100 sportive. Shortly after, the London-Surrey 46 sportive, a new ride for newer riders unused to a mass participation sportive, will set off. Both sportives finish on the Mall.
According to race organisers the best places to watch beyond the central London finales are Wimbledon Hill Road (until 16.50), the Swan Centre in Leatherhead (until 15.35), Dorking (until 14.30), Pyrford Cricket Club (until 12.00) and West Byfleet Recreation Ground (until 11.40).
Finally, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard and many other of the world's top male cyclists, spread over 25 teams, show the rest of us how it's done in the London to Surrey Classic which starts at the Horse Guards Parade at 13.15 and once again finishes at the Mall.
According to race organisers the best places to watch beyond the thrilling central London finale on the Mall are Wimbledon Hill Road (17.50), the Swan Centre in Leatherhead (17.10), Dorking (until 17.00), Pyrford Cricket Club (until 14.25) and West Byfleet Recreation Ground (14.15).
BBC is also an option.