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RideLondon Classique 2023: Everything you need to know
The RideLondon Classique 2023 will take place from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th May, taking riders on three stages around Essex and into London. It’s part of the wider RideLondon festival established by the Mayor of London in 2013 after the Olympics, incorporating the RideLondon-Essex 100 sportive, 60 and 30-mile rides, and the RideLondon FreeCycle into its weekend schedule.
Added to the Women’s WorldTour in 2016, the RideLondon Classique has grown from a one-day event to a multi-stage race. Last year, Team DSM’s Lorena Wiebes (now SD Worx) dominated, winning all three stages, the general classification and the points classification.
Viewers were only able to watch the final stage in London in 2022 (which could have forced the UCI to downgrade it), but for 2023 there will be live coverage on GCN+, BBC Two and on the BBC Red Button. Highlights will also be on Eurosport 1 and YouTube.
Wiebes will not be back to defend her RideLondon Classique crown as she’s racing in the Thüringen Ladies Tour. However former British national champion Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) returns to British roads for the first time since 2021, while Wiebes’ sprint successor at Team DSM Charlotte Kool and her British teammate Pfeiffer Georgi will take to the start line. There’s a jersey for the Best British Rider too, which was won last year by Jumbo-Visma’s Anna Henderson.
RideLondon Classique 2023: Key information
- Date: 26-28th May 2023
- Start: Saffron Walden, Essex
- Finish: The Mall, London
- Distance: 370.7km
- Live TV coverage: GCN+, BBC Two, BBC Red Button
- 2022 winner: Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM)
- Total prize pot: £60,000
RideLondon Classique 2023: Route and profiles
Stage 1: Saffron Walden – Colchester, 146.4km
By the time the peloton navigates three separate Queen of the Mountains points on the 149.7km route to Colchester, the finale should be one for the sprinters.
Stage 2: Maldon – Maldon, 133.1km
After hosting the opening stage of the 2022 race, the coastal town of Maldon is back for 2023 with the start and finish of Stage 2. The peloton will complete a loop around the Abberton Reservoir before heading back south and completing three laps of a hilly 22km circuit.
Stage 3: London – London, 91.2km
Starting and finishing on The Mall, riders will complete eight laps of a central London circuit. The course takes the peloton past iconic landmarks such as Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Eye. Bonus seconds and points will be available through two sprints on laps three and six. Expect attacks to shake up what will likely be a very close general classification.
RideLondon Classique 2023: How to watch on TV and streaming
After the threat of being downgraded should organisers not provide the necessary live coverage of at least 45 minutes per stage, the race will be broadcast on TV and streaming services this year.
In the UK the race will be free to watch on the BBC Red button and the final stage will also be on BBC Two.
In the UK, Europe and select international territories, the RideLondon Classique will be broadcast and live-streamed on Eurosport, GCN+ and Discovery+, with the full race available to watch back afterwards on GCN+ and highlights on Eurosport 1 and on YouTube via GCN Racing and Eurosport.
UK pricing for a GCN+ subscription is £6.99 a month or £39.99 per year. GCN+ is ad-free, gives commentary choices and also includes a wealth of cycling documentaries to watch. The Entertainment & Sports pass Discovery+ subscription costs £6.99 a month or £59.99 a year and is the same race coverage as GCN+ but you can watch Discovery’s other programmes such as Shed and Buried and Wheeler Dealers.
Live TV and streaming times
All times BST and subject to change by broadcasters.
Stage 1: Saffron Walden-Colchester, 149.7km
- GCN+: 13:15-15:15
- BBC Red Button HD and BBC Red Button One: 13:15-15:15
- Eurosport 1 highlights: 17:45-18:45
Stage 2: Maldon-Maldon, 137.1km
- GCN+: 13:00-15:00
- BBC Red Button HD and BBC Red Button One: 13:00-15:00
- Eurosport 1 highlights: 19:30-20:30
Stage 3: London-London, 92km
- GCN+: 15:00-18:00
- BBC Two: 15:00-18:00
- Eurosport 1 highlights: 23:15-00:15
RideLondon Classique 2023: The jerseys
How snazzy are these?!
