Britain’s Most British Bike Race?
Saturday 3rd August saw Prudential RideLondon host the 2019 Brompton World Championship for the fifth year and once again it managed to capture the spirit of British cycling at its very best!
The race starts on the flag lined Mall with a Le Mans-style dash and entrants frantically unfolding their Brompton’s before taking on the 10 mile circuit around St James’ Park. The riders are all dressed to impress and there is a strict no Lycra policy. While it may just seem like good fun and the embodiment of British eccentricity, down at the start line dormant competitive instincts bubble to the surface and the racing is fast and furious! The Brompton World Championships also features some familiar faces among the cycling community with ex-pro cyclist David Millar and some equally serious competitors and teams in the mix.
Team Bollinger, consisting of Andrew Hawes (138th) and Alan Montague Dennis (209th) from Mentzendorff and Simon Ransom-Tester (124th) of The Champagne Company, put in a fantastic effort in a dramatic final that saw it all. The lucky winners were presented by Jeroboams, Magnums and bottles of Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée (some of which made it off the podium)!
The inimitable Brompton folding bike was designed and built in London by Andrew Ritchie in 1975 in his flat in South Kensington, opposite the Brompton Oratory. Still made in London today, Brompton is now the UK’s largest bike manufacturer with each bike handmade by highly skilled craftsmen and women, many of whom took part in a 236 mile, 3-day ride in June 2018 from London to Champagne Bollinger.
