Listen up, keen cyclists! The online registration system for the ballot for places in the 2017 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 opens today.
The annual Prudential RideLondon festival of cycling is coming back for another year, and in 2017 will take place over the weekend of July 28 to July 30, with the 100-mile sportive taking place on Sunday July 30.
The registration system will remain open until Friday January 6, 2017, or until 80,000 registrations have been received; whichever is the earlier.
Work with The Whitingtons from Fixing Dad
This year, there is an additional opportunity offered within the ballot.
Following the success of the inspiring documentary Fixing Dad, which followed two sons - Anthony and Ian Whitington - as they helped their father change his lifestyle to reverse his type two diabetes, the Whitington family is offering to help mentor cyclists in the RideLondon challenge.
Riders entering the ballot for the 2017 RideLondon-Surrey 100 will have the option to enter the Fixing Challenge, and up to four riders will be selected to work with the Whitingtons during their preparations for the 100-mile ride on Sunday July 30, 2017.
Anthony Whitington said: "In 2017, we could be fixing Mum, fixing Dad, fixing your brother, sister, friend or fixing you.
"We know how committing to a challenge like this can make a profound and permanent difference to your health and lifestyle and we would love to help other families achieve what our family has done."
Anthony and Ian, together with Dad Geoff, will work with the cyclists to support their training and advise on diet and other lifestyle changes, supported by appropriate experts in the field.
They will film the progress of the Fixing Challenge riders which will feature on BBC Get Inspired and the BBC's coverage of Prudential RideLondon in 2017.
Hugh Brasher, event director of Prudential RideLondon said: "Fixing Dad could be the story of millions of families in the UK today.
"It's a very human and truly inspirational film with the laughter, tears and arguments of family life which we all know well.
"Poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyle are two of the root causes of the global obesity crisis. In the UK alone, diet-related type two diabetes causes hundreds of thousands of premature deaths and treating the condition places a huge burden on the NHS.
"The Fixing Challenge offers four families the chance to transform their lives with the help of the Whitington brothers and, on the way, will create more inspirational films to help other families. We are proud to support this."
The entry fee for UK participants in the RideLondon-Surrey 100 will be £58; you can register online now .
