UPDATE: On Monday evening, organisers announced that the event would be shortened and all riders should ride the route back southwards from Tuesday morning. For the full statement and story on that decision, click here.

The London–Edinburgh–London ultra cycling event has been suspended due to the severe weather conditions currently battering Scotland and parts of northern England as Storm Floris brings gusts in excess of 100mph.

Riders were this lunchtime told the event is paused and participants will be held at the next control checkpoint they reach. There is not expected to be an update until later in the afternoon, riders told that if they continue and leave a control against the instruction of an event controller then they face disqualification.

The decision comes as Storm Floris batters Scotland, 108mph gusts recorded in the Scottish Highlands and regular gusts in excess of 60mph closer to the event route. The Met Office has issued an Amber National Severe Weather Warning for wind which is currently expected to be in place for much of Scotland until 11pm.

In a second update provided at 3.30pm, event organisers said the suspension would continue until 7.30pm at the earliest. The ultra cycling event began yesterday, some riders having reached Scotland and many in northern England before the turnaround point in the Scottish capital. However, no further riding beyond the next control point will be allowed for the foreseeable.

In a statement, the organisers told participants: “LEL is currently paused. All riders will be held at the next control which they reach. We are planning to update everyone again in a couple of hours when the weather situation should be clearer. In the meantime we are grateful for everyone’s understanding whilst we work through how to restart the ride in a safe and orderly way.

“If you leave a control against the instruction of the Controller and the team you will be disqualified. You will no longer be part of London Edinburgh London 2025 and need to make you own arrangements for returning home. If you have questions please discuss them with controllers who will know the latest situation and what plans are in place to make you comfortable. This decision has been taken to ensure safety along the whole of the route. Please be mindful that it impacts the volunteers as much as riders so please follow their instructions.”

In the 3.30pm update they added: “Thank you to everyone for their help, good humour and understanding whilst we pause LEL. We will keep the pause in place for at least another four hours and will update you all again at 1930. We’re currently working through the process for releasing riders on to the route in an orderly and safe manner – in the order in which they arrived at Controls reflecting local conditions.

“We’re looking forward to seeing everyone get around the route safely over the next few days. Please do not leave a control until your Controller says you can. If you leave a control you will be leaving LEL and your entry will have ended. And please keep looking out for each other, if you have any concerns about other riders or any of the team, please let your Controller know.”

London-Edinburgh-London suspended
London-Edinburgh-London suspended (Image Credit: Facebook/London-Edinburgh-London)

The response from riders taking part in this year’s event shows the decision has been welcomed by many, one rider calling it “very sensible” having endured “really treacherous conditions” over Yad Moss.

Another commented: “I’m at Mickelton with a heap of other riders. Got blown right across road multiple times. Looking at wind forecast I could see us being here for a good 10 plus hours and there’s not a chance we would want to risk Yad Moss.”

The London-Edinburgh-London is one of Britain’s most iconic Audax cycling events and challenges participants to ride from the English capital to Scotland’s, and back. This year’s route is just over 1,500 km and includes more than 13,000 m of climbing. It’s run every four years and attracts riders from across the UK and further afield.