It's now been a week since the finish of the largest race of the season, Le Tour De France, and the cycling blues are beginning to set in; however, with the start list now released for Sunday's Ride London event, the race looks set to be an electric one.
A star studded cast lines up for this Sunday's event, some fresh from Tour De France stage win glory and hunting for more; Andre Greipel and Michael Matthews just some spearheading their respective teams of Lotto Soudal and Orica-BikeExchange to the win.
This year's route is almost identical to last year's and features a lot of the iconic route from the Olympic Road Race back in 2012. As with the Olympic event, this route will also favour a classics kind of rider, one willing to force an attack and win from a small group. Whilst the finish is on the straight flat surface of the Mall, the last few editions of this race have failed to end in a bunch sprint.
An uncommon feature with this race, compared to the others within the annual cycling calendar, is that a British composite team will be racing in the mix; this team making up the majority of 'Brits to watch' in this event. The likes of Alex Dowsett and previous winner, Adam Blythe will be leading this team, with also the inclusion of newcomer Dan McLay. With this level of calibre representing the British team in their home event, expect these riders to be the main favourite for this year's race..
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The race will begin in Horse Guards Parade before the peloton then makes its way to the first climb of the day, Leith Hill. Then comes Ranmore climb which will they will ascend no more than three times, before coming to the last climb of the day, the iconic Box hill.
This hilly route will promote a very attacking race, one most suited to punchy classics riders. Therefore likely winners of today's race will come from those crop of riders who are currently on top form, Michael Matthews at 13/2, Tom Boonen at 8/1 and Adam Blythe at 10/1,, make up the three main favourites.
However, with the unpredictable nature of this race, those riders who prefer to take their wins solo, or from small groups, should also be considered. Steve Cummings (at 22/1) comes to the race as one of the biggest outsiders, fresh from a solo win at the Tour De France, he'll be looking for some more solo glory here.
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Another rider to mention would be Jean-Pierre Drucker of BMC Racing, the current defending champion of this race; with a win already under his belt this year, a prologue in the tour of Luxembourg; expect him to also have his eyes on a win here at 12/1.
With the race being held on British soil, the Brits will be out in force and will likely feature prominently, maybe even control the whole race. Chris Froome lines up fresh from a Tour De France win for his first race on British soil in over two years. He's riding here to re pay the favour his British teammates paid him during the tour so don't expect him to be clinching the win.
The main 'Brits to watch' for this year's edition will be Adam Blythe and Ben Swift, at 10/1 and 12/1 respectively. Both classic punchy riders who also have a very fast turn of speed in a sprint, Ben Swift sprinting to second in this year's Milan San Remo, the 'sprinter's classic.'
A personal tip for the day would have to be Dan McLay at 20/1, unheard of before this year's tour he has really made a name for himself in the main sprint stages in the French race, earning a handful of top-ten finishes.
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If the race stays together and reaches the beginning of the mall in a large peloton, expect a frantic bunch sprint to the line. Griepel will likely lead the charge in this circumstance, but look out for the GB jersey of McLay, who has a habit of showing his cards in the final closing metres
Words By: @InsidePeloton96