Here’s my video blog https://youtu.be/eeaGRahu0F0

Being honest I was thoroughly disappointed with this event. It’s hyped up to be the most epic go to event but didn’t deliver.

the start pens were all OK & well managed & we got away but after roughly 38 miles we hit a huge bunch up, everyone was stopped, off bikes, walking. Rumours rumbled that there was a crash, after about half an hour we got going.

from this point on I just felt like every few miles through Surrey were stop start stop start & it was increasingly frustrating. 

Not all aid stations had electrolytes only ones called ‘hubs’ did & they closed hub 2. I think it was because of crashed causing delays & an elite race that follows the masses later they needed us out the way & didn’t want us stopping. Everything started to feel rushed & pressured at aid stations with co start bellowing down megaphones to get moving, threatening the sweeper vehicle was close. It was completely ridiculous because they rushed us out of pit stops just to hit another massive bunch up & be stuck on the road. What was the rush to hurry up just to wait?

on one of the steepest downhills we had marshals yelling to slow down & frantic braking I was really worried about crashing here 

Leith Hill was then closed due to a crash apparently. This then catapults loads of riders about 8 miles forward so we’re all bunched again instead of being spread out over 8 miles which exacerbated the congestion issues & we were walking even more 

box Hill then closed, same issue more bunching & stopping 

we then get to a town & are being held by marshals Through the whole town. What should have been a nice ride through a town full of spectators cheering was a massive anti climax 

we were drip fed out the other side of the town so after what seemed an eternity we did get going again 

it just seemed the narrower lanes of Surrey could not cope with such a large field of cyclists if any issues occurred the whole thing ground to a halt. 

I did not feel safe in such crowded conditions. 

Eventually I got to the finish having only done 86 miles not the promised 100. I felt like I’d let down everyone that sponsored me because I hadn’t done what I’d promised. 

I know I’m the 7 years of this event it’s been 86 miles a few times now so I’m not sure it’s viable to say this is a 100 mile event 

to top it all off they ran out of finishers medals & I didn’t get one, instead a piece of paper with excuses about a pallet of medals being left in a warehouse WTF! 

For me this was the completion of the London Classics so I did get that medal but missed out on wearing all my finishers medals & classic medal for photos to help boost sponsorship. It spoiled the experience of receiving the Classics Medal. I had to borrow a medal from another finisher to take photos 

The whole thing was a shambles really & I would never do this event again. Unless your set on doing the London’s classics Don’t waste your money on this high priced over hyped & under delivering event & got for a cheaper one with less entrants where you can actually Cycle instead of walk & actually do 100 miles.