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The 2024 Ford RideLondon Classique, part of the UCI Women’s World Tour, featured three unique courses across London and Essex from 24 to 26 May.
The courses produced three thrilling days of racing for some of the world’s best riders.
Stage One started in the medieval market town of Saffron Walden, in north-west Essex, and finished in the historic city of Colchester, which was the first capital of Roman Britain.
Saffron Walden was known simply as Walden until around 1500, when Saffron was added to the name due to the saffron crocus trade that started in the town in the 16th century, as the plant found soil conditions there favourable. On the outskirts of Saffron Walden is Audley End House, which was built in the 17th century and was once one of the largest mansions in the country.
Having left Saffron Walden the race will head west through Littlebury and towards the picturesque village of Elmdon. After just 8km of racing the riders will approach Hertford Lane and the first Queen of the Mountains (QoM) point of the race. This is sure to be an animated point in the race as riders attempt to secure much needed points and the QoM jersey come the end of the day. The race will then enter Cambridgeshire, with the people of Great Chishill able to watch the riders stream through the village, which is the highest point in the country, before the riders arrive in Hertfordshire. In 2024, the race will pass through some notable towns and villages in the county, which includes Barley, which has had notable residents including William Warham, former Archbishop of Canterbury, and musician Sam Smith, the ancient parish of Barkway, and Buckland, before heading down a closed section of the A10. Riders will exit before the market town of Buntingford, where a large community activation is arranged, and continuing onto Hare Street, Great Hormead, Brent Pelham and Pelham Gate before crossing the eastern border back into Essex. The second QoM point will also arrive on Cambridge Road after 18km of racing.
Riders will head east through the county through towns and villages including Clavering, Newport, Debden and the town of Thaxted, noted for its picturesque medieval guildhall and its iconic church. At the 74km mark the riders will enter Finchingfield, renowned as one of the most beautiful locations in the country and which welcomed riders of the 2014 Tour de France a decade ago, before Halstead hosts the first sprint of the day (88km) with vital points on offer to secure another of the leaders’ jerseys.
Whoever finishes the day in the Q0M jersey will be finalised on Sandy Hill, in Wormingford before the race winds to a conclusion through Dedham, Mistley (and a second Sprint point) and finally Colchester.
Colchester is both Britain’s newest city and its oldest recorded town. It became a city in 2022, as part of the late Queen’s Jubilee Civic Honours, but has a long and rich history dating back more than 2,000 years. This history includes being the first major city of Roman Britain, which was attacked and destroyed by Boudica, Queen of the ancient British Iceni tribe, in a famous uprising in AD61. The modern city still has remnants of its Roman past as well as (relatively) more recent history such as Colchester Castle, which was built in the 11th century and is the largest of its kind in Europe.
Stage One winner: Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx-Protime) made it back-to-back sprint successes in Colchester, winning a sprint after leading the way over the city’s East Hill
Maldon hosted Stage Two. The historic market town, situated on the Blackwater estuary on Essex’s east coast, has welcomed the race for three consecutive years.
Maldon has a long maritime history and once stood as a bastion against raiding Viking forces in the Battle of Maldon in AD 991. Today, this beautiful spot is known for its collection of Thames sailing barges that cluster around Hythe Quay – not to mention its world-famous Maldon Sea Salt.
Having set out from Promenade Park, the race heads east through Goldhanger and Tolleshunt D’Arcy, which is also situated on the Blackwater estuary, before its most northerly point in the village of Birch. Looping west the race enters Tiptree after 28km, which is internationally known for its production of preserves and jams and turns over millions of pounds every year.
The riders will continue onto Braxted, which features one of the largest walled private estates in the county, and Beacon Hill before the first of three loops of a smaller circuit. The race will pass through Witham at 41km, itself on the National Cycle Route, and loop towards Little Baddow and the first QoM points on offer on the day. Passing through Woodham Walter, the race will do its first pass through Maldon and head towards Wickham Bishops and Sprint Number One at 74km.
The two further loops of the smaller circuit follow, with QoM and Sprint points at the same points before a finish in Maldon High Street.
Stage Two winner: Wiebes was run close by 2023 race winner Charlotte Kool but made it back-to-back victories on the opening two days
The race culminated with the showpiece Stage Three in central London, which is an iconic stage targeted by the world’s best sprinters.
Stage Three winner: Wiebes made it a hattrick of victories in central London, again followed across the line by Kool and world champion Lotte Kopecky.