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UNITED KINGDOM · SPORTIVE

RIDE LONDON 100
TRAINING PLAN.

Ride London 100 is the UK's largest mass-participation sportive — 160km (100 miles) from Surrey into central London on closed roads. Rolling with two named climbs (Leith Hill, Box Hill). First-time 100-mile riders dominate the field.

160 km·1,200 m climbing·5-9 hours·May

PICK YOUR WINDOW

HOW LONG TILL YOUR RIDE LONDON?

Count back from your event date. Pick the weeks-out plan that matches your window. Each one is a week-by-week framework built around the demands of this specific course.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE RIDE LONDON ACTUALLY DEMANDS

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • ✓Closed roads on the outbound and return legs
  • ✓Leith Hill — the psychological midpoint; Box Hill — the fun one
  • ✓Pack riding dominates — drafting saves 20-30% of your work
  • ✓Central London finish with huge crowds
  • ✓Early start (often 06:30) — means late nights the week before ruin you

COMMON MISTAKES

  • ✗Surfing from group to group in the first 40km and burning matches
  • ✗Underhydrating because it 'doesn't feel hot' on closed roads
  • ✗Descending Leith Hill too cautiously and losing the pack behind you

PACING

Sit in a pack at your sportive pace. Don't chase a faster pack if you can't comfortably hold a wheel for 10 minutes. Leith Hill is at 77km — keep your power 10% below threshold. Box Hill is a 3-minute effort, go for a Strava time if you have legs, otherwise spin.

FUELLING

Gels every 30-45 min + bar every 90. Closed-road feed zones are plentiful but often packed — carry enough that you can skip one. Caffeine gel at 100km keeps the focus through the urban section.

KIT

Aero road bike with 52/36 + 11-30 cassette is plenty. No need for climbing gear. Bidon cage warming bottles (it often rains). Thin gloves — finish is in London, traffic after the line.

FAQ

RIDE LONDON TRAINING, ANSWERED.

How long should I train for the Ride London 100?

For the Ride London 100 (160km with 1,200m of climbing), most riders benefit from at least 12-16 weeks of structured preparation. If you've been riding consistently, 8 weeks of focused work can still be enough to transform your result. Pick the weeks-out plan that matches your window.

What's the typical finish time for the Ride London 100?

Most amateur finishers complete the Ride London 100 in 5-9 hours. The spread is driven by climbing fitness more than flat speed — the course has 1,200m of vertical, and pacing the climbs is what separates a strong finish from a suffering one.

When does the Ride London 100 take place?

The Ride London 100 typically runs in May. That sets the training window: count back from your event date and pick the weeks-out plan that matches.

What's the biggest mistake riders make at the Ride London 100?

Surfing from group to group in the first 40km and burning matches

How should I pace the Ride London 100?

Sit in a pack at your sportive pace. Don't chase a faster pack if you can't comfortably hold a wheel for 10 minutes. Leith Hill is at 77km — keep your power 10% below threshold. Box Hill is a 3-minute effort, go for a Strava time if you have legs, otherwise spin.

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

READY FOR A PLAN MADE FOR YOU?

The framework above gets you in the right territory. Roadman coaching builds it around your FTP, your life, and your weeks remaining.

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