The United Kingdom’s largest amateur gran fondo style cycling event, RideLondon, has been called off.

With 30,000 riders expected for the 8th edition of the well-known cycling event in London on 16 August, authorities announced today in the interest of public safety they would not issue permits for the event due to COVID-19.

“RideLondon has been one of the highlights of the capital’s event calendar for the last seven years, so it is obviously disappointing that it cannot be staged this year,” said cycling commissioner Will Norman.

As far as refunds, RideLondon event director Hugh Brasher announced, “All participants and charities who paid for a place in the 2020 event will be refunded their entry in full.”

With the contract to hold the popular event coming to an end in 2020 and the title sponsor Prudential also leaving, the event’s future is uncertain.  “2021 will be the first year of a new contract to deliver RideLondon and, with the current unknowns about the short-term future for mass participation events and the importance of inspiring as many people as possible to cycle more often, we’re taking the opportunity to fully review the format and timing of the event over the next few months,” Brasher said.

Check our Worldwide Gran Fondo Calendar for the most accurate and up-to-date listings of current, cancelled and rescheduled events