Double Olympic champion Laura Trott will officially launch a Guinness World Record attempt as the Prudential RideLondon cycling fiesta kicks off in style on Saturday August 3.
The Manchester-based Team GB gold medallist and reigning world champion has been named as the official starter for the record attempt, with more than 2,800 cyclists registered to take part in the effort to break the longest single parade of bikes.
The current record of 916 bikes was set in Davis, California in 2010 and Trott, who knows all about smashing records, will sound the klaxon to get proceedings underway and spark the beginning of a weekend of festivities across London and Surrey.
“I’m honoured to be asked to be the official starter and it’s great to see so many people registered to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Trott.
“I know how amazing it feels to break a world record on your bike so I’ll be cheering everyone on from the sidelines. I’m really excited to play a small part and I’ll be wishing everyone the best of luck on the day – I hope they do it!”
The world record effort is part of the Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle, with more than 50,000 riders expected to take to the streets and experience the fun and freedom of cycling through London on an eight-mile, traffic-free route featuring many of the capital’s world-famous landmarks, from Buckingham Palace to the Tower of London via the Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s.
Trott, who was speaking at an exclusive cycling class at Virgin Active’s 200 Aldersgate Health Club, will also be competing later that day in the Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix against some of the world’s best female riders including fellow team pursuit Olympic gold medallists Dani King and Joanna Rowsell, and 2013 world champion Elinor Barker.
Prudential RideLondon takes place on 3 and 4 August. If you are inspired to ride, visit www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
