London cyclists: get on to Tour of Britain podium

The Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) have teamed up with the organisers of the Tour of Britain cycle race to offer one lucky Cycle Fridays rider the chance to present a top professional cyclist with their winning jersey at this Saturday’s Tour of Britain final stage.
Everyone taking part in this week’s Cycle Friday rides will be automatically entered into the draw for the prize, which also includes a pair of tickets to the Tour of Britain’s VIP hospitality area at Victoria Embankment.
Thousands of people are expected to turn out on Saturday to watch the Tour of Britain cycle race, which is finishing its eight day UK tour in the Capital.
Bradley Wiggins, the London born Olympic and Tour de France hero, will be one of the 96 professional cyclists racing on an 86 kilometres circuit that will take in some of the Capital’s most iconic landmarks. The 8.6 kilometre route (which the riders will complete ten times) will start and finish on Victoria Embankment, taking the riders along the banks of the Thames, through the City of London, and past Big Ben, Cleopatra’s Needle, Somerset House, and the Tower of London.
The following day, London’s weekend of cycling will continue with the Mayor of London’s Skyride. Tens of thousands of cyclists will enjoy traffic-free roads for the day, encouraging riders of all ages and abilities to get on their bikes with friends and family. The 15km route will take riders past Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral and The Tower of London and will feature St James Park and views of the River Thames. For the first time the route will also include the heart of the City of London, allowing cyclists a traffic-free trip down Canon Street, Bank and Cheapside.
Kulveer Ranger, Transport Adviser to the Mayor of London, said: “Cycle Fridays have created a buzz with cyclists who had needed a helping hand to take up biking regularly. What better way to inspire these budding cyclists than to give them the chance to be a part of London’s biggest ever weekend of cycling. The various events in the capital will help people discover the cleanest, greenest way of getting about, and will make a great conclusion to a fantastic summer of cycling.”
David Brown, Managing Director of Surface Transport, said: “London is well on its way to becoming a cycling city. The number of cycle journeys made in London has more than doubled since 2000, and in the last year alone we’ve seen a nine per cent increase in cycle journeys on London’s major roads. Inspirational events such as the Tour of Britain really help to capture people’s imaginations, and play an important role in encouraging more people out on their bikes more often.”
This is the third time in four years that Transport for London (TfL) has brought the Tour of Britain, the largest free sporting event in the country, to the Capital. The race will also finish here in 2010 and 2011.