Human Powered Health Cycling is in England for the sprint-heavy Women’s WorldTour stage race the RideLondon Classique from May 24 through 26.
A three-day race with two stages outside of the capital in neighboring Essex, RideLondon then concludes in the very heart of London along The Mall outside Buckingham Palace. A royal finale for what could be classed as an unofficial sprinters world championship.
Sprinter Daria Pikulik heads to England with six podium finishers this season including victory at Ronde de Mouscron and a recent second-place finish at the GP Mazda Schelkens and will spearhead the team. She’s joined by Audrey Cordon-Ragot, who could be an option on stage 2, road captain Romy Kasper, lead-out sister Wiktoria Pikulik, and home rider Alice Wood, who put in an impressive effort in the lead-out for Pikulik on Monday.
No stage of the race has ever finished without a bunch kick so the race has brought the best and brightest of the sport to England. Pikulik will go up against Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx – Protime), Charlotte Kool (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL), Chiara Consonni (UAE Team ADQ), Georgia Baker (Liv AlUla Jayco), Martina Fidanza (CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team) and the Sofie van Rooijen (VolkerWessels Women’s Pro Cycling Team). World champion Lotte Kopecky is also down to race.
How to watch
USA
Max with B/R sports add on 5/24 – 5/26
Stage 1 and 2 from 8:15 am EDT / from 7:15 am CDT / from 6:15 am MDT / from 5:15 am PDT
Stage 3 from 10:30 am EDT / from 9:30 am CDT / from 8:30 am MDT / from 7:30 am PDT
Europe
Eurosport/Discovery 5/24 – 5/26
Stage 1 and 2 from 14:15 CET
Stage 3 from 16:30 CET
UK
BBC Sport website – Stage 1 and 2 from 13:15 BST
BBC Two – Stage 3 from 15:30 BST
Route guide
5/24 Stage 1 | Saffron Walden – Colchester (159km) Flat
At nearly 160km, what stage 1 lacks in climbs it makes up with in distance. The peloton will traverse beautiful English country roads, before finishing in Colchester, once the Roman capital of Britain, with what is likely the first of three bunch sprints.
5/25 Stage 2 | Maldon – Maldon (143km) Flat
Stage 2 could be a day for Classics style riders who if they make it tough from the off, may well force a smaller selection over the three ascents of the 900m at 6% climb of North Hill. Otherwise, powerful sprinters will contest the sprint up a small kick to the line inside the final kilometer.
5/26 Stage 3 | London – London (91km) Flat
The marquee stage of the race, the finale in London is bound to be spectacular. With a landmark on almost every corner, the circuit truly shows off the best of the city. From Big Ben to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Piccadilly Circus to the London Eye, one of the keys for the riders will be trying to just focus on the road ahead. An iconic final along the Mall under the eyes of Buckingham Palace is the cherry on top of the cake.
Roster
Audrey Cordon-Ragot
Romy Kasper
Daria Pikulik
Wiktoria Pikulik
Alice Wood
Follow comprehensive coverage of Human Powered Health’s fortunes throughout the week via the team’s Instagram, Facebook and X accounts.
