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| RideLondon: 'Biggest ever' cycle event in London | RideLondon: 'Biggest ever' cycle event in London |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Thousands of cyclists have ridden through central London during the first day of what is expected to be the UK's biggest road cycling event ever. | Thousands of cyclists have ridden through central London during the first day of what is expected to be the UK's biggest road cycling event ever. |
| Families and amateur cyclists took part in the RideLondon cycle, which cruised along the Embankment and Birdcage Walk to end in The Mall at about 16:00. | Families and amateur cyclists took part in the RideLondon cycle, which cruised along the Embankment and Birdcage Walk to end in The Mall at about 16:00. |
| There will be hand cyclist and elite female races during the evening. | There will be hand cyclist and elite female races during the evening. |
| The highlight of the festival is a 100-mile race from London through Surrey, which will take place on Sunday. | The highlight of the festival is a 100-mile race from London through Surrey, which will take place on Sunday. |
| By 09:30 both carriageways of Victoria Embankment were full of cycles. | By 09:30 both carriageways of Victoria Embankment were full of cycles. |
| Riders pedalled from Birdcage Walk and Buckingham Palace in the west to Tower Hill in the east. | Riders pedalled from Birdcage Walk and Buckingham Palace in the west to Tower Hill in the east. |
| Among them was magician Robin Fox, who was riding a penny farthing and sporting a vast handlebar moustache. He said: "Any public event that helps to create awareness of cycling is great. The more cycles the better." | Among them was magician Robin Fox, who was riding a penny farthing and sporting a vast handlebar moustache. He said: "Any public event that helps to create awareness of cycling is great. The more cycles the better." |
| Maddox Tanrien, a 46-year-old from Stratford who works for Chelsea FC, said: "I just fancied a day out riding without traffic. | Maddox Tanrien, a 46-year-old from Stratford who works for Chelsea FC, said: "I just fancied a day out riding without traffic. |
| "I cycle every day but this is the first time I've done anything like this. | "I cycle every day but this is the first time I've done anything like this. |
| "The freedom to go anywhere is brilliant because the traffic in London usually is horrible." | "The freedom to go anywhere is brilliant because the traffic in London usually is horrible." |
| Event Director Hugh Brasher said he was "not surprised" at the number of people taking part. He said: "It's a fantastic day out for families - to enjoy London, to get on their bikes, to take in the sights, stop at cafes and generally have a great time." | Event Director Hugh Brasher said he was "not surprised" at the number of people taking part. He said: "It's a fantastic day out for families - to enjoy London, to get on their bikes, to take in the sights, stop at cafes and generally have a great time." |
| Londoners were warned about disruption on the roads. | Londoners were warned about disruption on the roads. |
| Transport for London said residents should not "get caught out" and should plan their travel in advance. | Transport for London said residents should not "get caught out" and should plan their travel in advance. |
| The area affected by the RideLondon-Surrey100 on Sunday runs from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park through east, central and south-west London on to Surrey before finishing on The Mall in central London. | The area affected by the RideLondon-Surrey100 on Sunday runs from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park through east, central and south-west London on to Surrey before finishing on The Mall in central London. |
| London's Transport Commissioner, Sir Peter Hendy, said: "This is the largest event London's streets will have seen since the Olympics. | London's Transport Commissioner, Sir Peter Hendy, said: "This is the largest event London's streets will have seen since the Olympics. |
| "During the London 2012 Games, Londoners and businesses took sensible steps to plan ahead and adapt their travel. | "During the London 2012 Games, Londoners and businesses took sensible steps to plan ahead and adapt their travel. |
| "I'm urging everyone to do that once again so that they don't get caught out and can continue to get around and enjoy the weekend." | "I'm urging everyone to do that once again so that they don't get caught out and can continue to get around and enjoy the weekend." |
| Mayor of London Boris Johnson will be one of about 20,000 cyclists taking on the 100-mile (160km) ride. | Mayor of London Boris Johnson will be one of about 20,000 cyclists taking on the 100-mile (160km) ride. |
| He said he hoped to see "huge numbers of people doing the 100-mile cycling marathon". | He said he hoped to see "huge numbers of people doing the 100-mile cycling marathon". |
| And he claimed: "It shows that London is in the lead in delivering cycling events." | And he claimed: "It shows that London is in the lead in delivering cycling events." |
| Over the course of the weekend organisers hope 70,000 will have taken part. | Over the course of the weekend organisers hope 70,000 will have taken part. |