Hurricane could hit RideLondon-Surrey 100 on Sunday – riders warned to prepare for weather

It was excellent organisation, and great to see all the people out cheering, despite the weather.

The only problem was the castelli crew with their expensive bikes acting like pro's and throwing their gel and food wrappers to the ground...yeah you know who you are SHAMEFUL. Probably the same people who can't mend a puncture!

Well I pushed through the apocalyptic rain and flooded bits of road only to be taken out on the hill up to Newlands when someone stopped suddenly in the middle of the road with no warning and managed to cause a pile up. Having to journey home in the wagon was extremely rough. Many cold beers required tonight.

There were big sections of road where you couldn't see pot holes for all the standing rain water. The box hill road surface is lovely and that would probably have been alright (if the wind stayed down) but the leith hill descent would have been a nightmare.

For the first 10-15 miles, it was just a bit overcast, there was a little bit of rain on my way to the start, but mostly fine.
And then Mother Nature decided to have her fun.
So. So. Rainy.
I actually don't mind riding in the rain too much, I tend to do alright in those conditions but about 50 miles in I couldn't ever remember ever being so soaked. Then walking back to Victoria station, I caught in that downpour around 2:30!!
It was absolutely the right call to divert the course. I can't quite remember where, but I saw a small pile-up at the bottom of possibly Newland's, with a sharpish corner just at the bottom. It would've been absolute chaos had Box and Leith gone ahead, especially when you consider quite a few of the 24,000 taking part have likely not had any experience riding in a large bunch or in such poor weather.

The conditions were wet and wild and apart from being reasonably warm, were about the worst conditions I have ridden in. That said it was great fun, a bit mental and the flooding was crazy.
It was absolutely the right call shutting Leith & Box hill - riders were falling off going up Newlands corner when they lost traction in the floodwater pouring down the hill !
The descent was pretty mad too as my brakes had pretty much stopped working.
I did see a number of nasty crashes, mainly down to rider error, especially the ones ignoring the Marshall's request to slow down - very foolish.
The puncture count was off the scale as there were huge numbers mending them roadside.
All said, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was really well run. The supporters who turned out in torrential rain to cheer rider on deserve a special mention.
I am no sportive fan but this is one event I would thoroughly recommend.

Just finished. No rain until about 10 miles in, then the heavens opened. Literally rivers and huge floods in the dips. I saw three riders who looked like they fell hard and weren't getting up. They were comforted by the medics. Absolutely hundreds of punctures along the course. I had one just as I arrived at the start. What a stupid surface to send cyclists down around the Olympic parks, bloody flint chippings.

Just as was about to leave this when the fella asked if I could show him how to change an inner tube. He had never done it and was clueless about the procedure. Unfortunately he had only one inner tube so if he got another he was going to be stuck.

Resting up now and ironing the wrinkles out of my soaked feet hahaha

For those taking part today, chapeau!

I wandered through Raynes Park this morning to see the first waves come through, and it was absolutely chucking it down. I saw quite a few riders come unstuck even there, super slippery corners.

Closing the hills was absolutely the right thing to do. I don't care how hard you are, the road is harder. Lots of riders will be wearing cuts and bruises tomorrow with pride, hopefully no one will be wearing plaster.

Just read that there are contingency plans to shorten and cut out Leith & box hill. If that happens it becomes more like a flat TT and I really would be rather disappointed. Rule number 5 for the good folk at the Our.

Just read that there are contingency plans to shorten and cut out Leith & box hill. If that happens it becomes more like a flat TT and I really would be rather disappointed. Rule number 5 for the good folk at the Our.

Best of luck to everyone riding it. My first 60-mile sportive was in strong winds and I nearly burst!

I'll look forwards for the next month of being told exactly how awesome people who weren't racing were for cycling in the wet, in the countryside.

Bummer - I'm racing on Sunday and can't put it off as I have to qualify for the Brits but riding with a wet arse is none too pleasant.

I very much doubt there'll be 30,000 cyclist starting on Sunday.

The latest forecast shows torrential rain for pretty much the duration - I am contemplating riding my winter bike !

I generally don't mind rain, it's wind that I don't like. Looks like early rain dying out by late morning so hopefully the return section will be fun

Last years' event was picture perfect from start to finish, I'm glad that I didn't make the cut for this year. I predict misery.