RideLondon-Essex returns for a second year

Following the success of the first RideLondon-Essex in May 2022, Essex County Council (ECC) has today (Thursday 18 August) announced it will host the cycling festival in the county in 2023.

ECC plans to agree a one-year contract with organisers London Marathon Events to host the event on Sunday 28 May 2023, following the success of the first RideLondon-Essex in May 2022.

Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance and Sustainable Transport, Cllr Lee Scott said: “RideLondon-Essex 2022 was a successful inaugural event but we want to make the RideLondon-Essex 2023 even better.

“The RideLondon route is undergoing a process of review and we will be asking residents and businesses for their input to build upon the spirit and success of this year’s event.”

The inaugural event saw more than 22,000 cyclists participate in mass participation rides of 100, 60 and 30 miles, all routes which go through the Essex countryside from the start in central London.

The event was televised on the BBC and internationally and has already raised millions of pounds for charity, with the final total of money raised to be confirmed later in the year.

London Marathon Events, which organises the event, is currently conducting a full review of the 2022 event alongside Essex County Council and other event stakeholders. Feedback from residents, businesses and parish, district, town and city councils will help shape the event for 2023.

Hugh Brasher, Event Director of RideLondon, said: "We are looking forward to building on the success of this year's RideLondon-Essex which saw tens of thousands of people, of all ages and abilities, take part in one of our mass participation rides and millions of pounds raised for charity. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Essex County Council and the London boroughs in 2023 and to delivering another truly inspiring festival of cycling."

Hosting RideLondon-Essex enables organisations in Essex to benefit from significant funding from The London Marathon Charitable Trust (The Trust) – the parent charity of the event organisers London Marathon Events.

Already £1 million has been allocated to Essex in 2022 by The Trust for projects that will inspire activity, support people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport and physical activity and increase participation. Details of the application process for grants from this funding will be announced in September.

Hosting RideLondon is part of the County Council’s Everyone’s Essex: a plan for levelling up the county which aims to help people keep fit and active and promotes active travel as part of the move towards net zero.