The third edition of the Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix will feature a world first for cycling with footage from cameras fixed to the helmets of the leading riders to be broadcast as part of live coverage of the race.
The men’s and women’s pelotons have both experimented with streaming on-bike footage this season but the women’s Grand Prix on Saturday will be the first time the images have taken viewers directly to the heart of the action.
A strong field have been assembled for what has become one of the premier city centre criterium races in the calendar. Looping for 1.3 miles around St James’s Park it finishes on the Mall where the battle between Marianne Vos and Lizzie Armitstead in the 2012 Olympic road race raised the profile of women’s cycling.
The field features the Women’s Tour winner Lisa Brennauer, the return of the Orica-AIS team headed by the experienced Swede Emma Johansson and past winners Georgia Bronzini and Laura Trott, who lines up for Matrix Fitness. Trott, Bronzini and Johansson will all wear the cameras transmitting the images for broadcast.
“I’m really looking forward to competing in RideLondon for the third time” said Trott, the 2013 winner and multiple Olympic medallist. “I think it’s become a really good race and the crowds are always amazing.”
Trott accepts it will be difficult to repeat her success in a field packed with the world’s top sprinters. “Every race you enter you want to win but obviously I know how good the other girls are,” she said. “It’ll be tough but I’m looking forward to racing in front of the home crowd.”
Sports director Stef Wyman knows this is a huge opportunity for Matrix Fitness, who turned professional this year. “We’re nervous but excited. It’s a short race, and anything can happen,” he said.
Also on the start line will be Dani King, coming back from a serious training accident when broken ribs and a punctured lung threatened to end the Olympic pursuit champion’s career. “I’m absolutely fine,” she said. “I feel pain in my ribs every day but not on the bike. I’m grateful to have recovered so well.”
This will be King’s first race since the Women’s Tour in June and she said it will be a “shock to the system” to be back on the road. “I don’t know our race tactics yet but I’ll execute the race plan to the best of my ability and hope for a win for the team.”
On Sunday it will be the men’s turn with Mark Cavendish, Philippe Gilbert and Sir Bradley Wiggins lining up in the RideLondon-Surrey Classic.
