2022 RideLondon Classique preview & velogames tips

Stage 1

• Start: Maldon, 11:00 UK time
• Finish: Maldon, 14:30 – 14:50
• Distance: 5K (five climbs, 1,033 vertical metres)

The opening stage starts and finishes in the ancient Essex town of Maldon. It will feature two laps of the Abberton Reservoir on the outskirts of Colchester and pass Tiptree, home to the world-famous Tiptree jam, before finishing with two circuits around Maldon.

Stage 2

• Start: Chelmsford, 11:00 UK time

• Finish:Epping, 14:30 – 15:00
• Distance: 141K (eight climbs, 1,368 vertical metres)

An undulating stage that starts in Chelmsford, the county seat of Essex, and heads north towards Finchingfield and Great Dunmow before returning south and culminating in three circuits around Epping Forest, the historic former royal forest that straddles the border of Essex and London. The final circuits will be punctuated by short, sharp climbs to create a thrilling finale.

Stage 3

• Start: Victoria Embankment, 15:45 UK time

• Finish: Victoria Embankment, 17:35 – 17:50
• Distance: 3K

Similar to the previous one-day editions of the RideLondon Classique, the final Stage is a multi-lap circuit race in the centre of London. The route has been tweaked from previous editions of the race, with a start and finish on Victoria Embankment beside the River Thames. The route has also been made longer with two short (7.3km) laps and seven long (10.1km) laps on a circuit that includes some of London’s most famous streets, including Piccadilly, Pall Mall and the Strand.

Prediction for General Classification

CC2004

Elisa Balsamo – World champion is one of the quickest sprinters and has beaten several of the favourites multiple times.

Lotte Kopecky – Another good sprinter that can win the GC.

Lorena Wiebes – A powerful sprinter with a good leadout train.

Emma Norsgaard – Another good sprinter.

Chiara Consonni – A good sprinter with a great leadout train.

Velogames tips

Elisa Balsamo (24) – the World Champion is a great sprinter with 4 wins so far this season and two 2nds with lead out from Hosking.

Lorena Wiebes (24) – Another great sprinter with 4 wins, two 2nds and a 3rd, lead out from Kool.

Lotte Kopecky (20) – Good sprinter with 3 wins so far and a good lead out train including Blaak and Uneken.

Marta Bastianelli (20) – A good sprinter who can easily surprise with Bertizzolo as leadout.

Emma Norsgaard (18) – In form with a 3rd place and 9th at Burgos behind Kopecky.

Clara Copponi (16) – Another good sprinter with leadout of Guazzini with 6 top 10 results.

Coryn Labecki (14) – A good sprinter but unknown whether she will be on leadout duty for Vos.

Chiara Consonni (14) – Good sprinter with a great leadout train.

Charlotte Kool (12) – Good sprinter who will get assist points for Wiebes.

Chloe Hosking (12) – Good sprinter who will finish well and get assist points for Balsamo.

Elena Cecchini (10) – Likely to get assist points for Kopecky.

Silvia Persico (10) – Good sprinter and assist points for Consonni.

Lonneke Uneken (8) – Good backup sprinter for SD and will assist Kopecky in sprint train.

Susanne Andersen (8) – Potentially could be a surprise with several top 10s so far this season on sprint stages.

Rachele Barbieri (6) – Another rider having a breakthrough season and can sprint well.

More teams to confirm riders will add more riders when VG is updated.