Peter Kelsey was one of 30 Viceroys who cycled London/Surrey 100 in 2016, he tells his own story:

‘Every time I looked at my wake up time for this event, I set the alarm even earlier to fit in breakfast. In the end I almost got up before I went to bed, such was the challenge of the drive to my approved parking space in sarf east Larnden. With hindsight, the drive there and back was ghastly, (not to self: next time stay in town the night before).

 RideLondon is a fantastic 100 mile closed road sportive, with 26,000 riders taking part. The weather was good, and I was really looking forward to riding so many local roads at a pace, and not having to worry about ‘car up’ or ‘car back’. I would recommend any keen cyclists add this sportive to their list!

The start pens are well signed and well-drilled and there are more ‘pre-fab toilets’ than at La Maratona.

A slightly delayed start before we rolled out, and immediately the pace was over 40 kph through central London. Heading west I could see a large group had formed a few hundred metres ahead, and with the help of a big friendly giant South African we reeled them in by Richmond Park. Things then rumbled nicely through Walton & Weybridge, even if I rolled through Walton too early to get a cheer from Chairman Yeo. Byfleet, Pyrford & Ripley were a blur before the first climb up Newlands, where some of the group go out the back. Then a fast descent towards a climb into Holmbury & Leith and finally Box Hill. You then head  back through Leatherhead, Oxshott & Esher to the final blast into town via Wimbledon. A late hill into Wimbledon wrecks a few who have gone out too hard, but from there it is a really fast flat ride to the embankment through Putney and a sprint finish after Admiralty Arch.

 I didn’t stop to refuel, but there were many feed and drink stations well-signed, and it was lovely to see the public out to watch in such force.

 After political recent events it was also great for London to put on such a positive event, even if it does mean closed roads for most of the day, which I know some locals find a bit tedious.

I hope to ride the event again next year, and hope that based on this year’s time I can get seeded in the very front pens, as it is clear that those groups go the fastest, so getting out early is a better plan for those aiming to set a fast time.

 Other lessons learned:carry 2 super-size bottles to avoid stopping;  stay up in London the night before;  don’t over hydrate pre-ride to avoid a loo stop.

Rumour has it that Yeo will do this in 2017, it is tailor-made for the bigger stronger rider like him, as RideLondon is all about pure power on rolling hill events like this, there are not really enough hills for little mountain goats like me!’

As raced and reported by Pete Kelsey