The event also included the RideLondon-Surrey 100, in which more than 20,000 amateur riders took part, while Italian World Championships gold medallist Giorgia Bronzini produced a sprint finish to defeat world and Olympic road race champion Marianne Vos in the RideLondon Grand Prix.

The weekend finished with a thrilling win on The Mall by national circuit race champion Adam Blythe as he beat fellow-Briton Ben Swift in the RideLondon-Surrey Classic, which also included an appearance from 2012 Tour de France winner and four-time Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins.

"This weekend Prudential RideLondon has cemented its status as the world's premier mass-participation cycling event," Johnson said.

"From all the families and kids who've hopped on to the saddle, to the elite athletes and enthusiastic amateurs who've battled through driving rain, it's been a fantastic advert for cycling and for our city.

"Huge thanks to the organisers for putting on such a great event and to communities across the route who came together to show their support for those taking part in the London Marathon on wheels."

Adam Blythe won the battle of the Brits at the RideLondon-Surrey Classic in a dramatic sprint finish on The Mall ©Getty Images


Event director Hugh Brasher also hailed the festival as "a fabulous celebration of cycling".

"Despite difficult weather conditions today, more than 20,000 amateur cyclists rose to the challenge of riding an 86-mile route through London and Surrey as they took on the sportive," he added.

"We were impressed that so many riders braved the wind and rain.

"To have 25 per cent more finishers this year than in 2013 cements the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100's reputation as the new must-do event in the UK sporting calendar.

"And to have a British one-two in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic is testament to the rude health of British cycling."

The event also featured other big names, including Olympic and Commonwealth champion Laura Trott and 11-time Paralympic gold medallist Dame Sarah Storey, who joined Vos in dropping the Union Flag to set the RideLondon-Surrey 100 cyclists on their way from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Marianne Vos, Lizzie Armitstead and Laura Trott took part in the Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix ©Getty Images


The race was, however, tainted by sadness at the news of the death of a participant.

Kris Cook, 36, collapsed at Newlands Corner from a sudden cardiac arrest and, although medics tried to revive him, his death was later confirmed at hospital.

He had been part of a group of 12 riders raising money for Woking Hospice.

His mother said he had died doing something he loved and welcomed donations in his memory on his Just Giving page.

"The organisers of the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 would like to express their sincere condolences to Kris's family and friends," read a statement from the organisers.

"We will not be releasing any further details and would ask for your understanding in this matter.

"His [Cook's] exact cause of death will be established by a post-mortem."

The ballot for next year's Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 opens online next Monday (August 18), with the festival scheduled to take place on August 1 and 2, 2015.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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