The full route of the 2023 UCI Women's World Tour Ford RideLondon Classique - which starts in Saffron Walden - has been announced.

The cycling event takes place between Friday, May 26 and Sunday, May 28. 

For the second year running, the opening two stages will take place in Essex, before the final stage in central London.

Stage one - which is 149.7k - starts from Saffron Walden on the Friday and finishes in Colchester.

The route starts in King Street at 11am, and takes riders through some of Essex's most beautiful villages and countryside, including Dedham Vale, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Scott Sunderland, Ford RideLondon Classique race director, said: "This course is constantly up and down, with twists and turns and very little flat sections, before a slightly uphill finish in Colchester.

"It’s an excellent parcourse for the one-day specialists and strong sprinters." 

Stage two, on Saturday, May 27, starts and finishes in Maldon, and is a 137.1k route.

The riders will start in Maldon town's Promenade Park at 11am, before heading north on largely flat, open roads, circling Abberton Reservoir.

This year's route includes three laps of a finishing circuit, that will allow spectators in Maldon to see the riders at various locations.

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Scott added: "The final circuits of Stage Two cover approximately 22K, and include the repeated climb of North Hill."

Finally stage three, on Saturday, May 28, is an eight-lap race through some of the most famous streets in central London, starting and finishing on The Mall.

The 91k stage will take riders on a circuit that passes iconic landmarks such as Piccadilly Circus, St Paul's Cathedral and the Palace of Westminster.

"The Mall is one of the most iconic streets in the world so this final stage in central London is one every cyclist will be eager to win," Scott said.

The Ford RideLondon Classique is part of Ford RideLondon, which includes four mass participation events on Sunday, May 28.

These include Ford FreeCycle in London and the Ford RideLondon-Essex 100, 60 and 30-mile rides. 

For more details of each route go to https://www.ridelondon.co.uk/the-classique/the-stages.