The City of London Nocturne returns this weekend, transforming the Square Mile into a high-speed cycling circuit across two days of racing and festival entertainment. From charity team relays featuring pro riders and corporate teams on Friday to elite criterium races on Saturday, the event will showcase a packed programme of cycling action, world-record attempts, and community races, all set against the backdrop of the City's iconic streets.
Friday: GOSH City Criterium
On Friday 12th June, the action kicks off with the GOSH City Criterium, a new charity Pro-Am team challenge. Twenty corporate teams will be joined by pro riders on a closed road circuit around Guildhall in a team relay format. The cohort of professionals includes triple Olympic champion Ed Clancy and Giro d'Italia stage winner Alex Dowsett. They will be raising money for the new Children Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Saturday: Nocturne Main Event
On Saturday 13th June, racing continues on a thrilling 1.3 km closed-road circuit weaving through Cheapside and Bank, right in the heart of the City. The programme runs from midday to 10pm and includes a variety of exciting events:
- The Brompton Folding Bike Race
- The Voi Bike Challenge – a cycle hire race where riders must ride responsibly to avoid penalties
- The Limitless Race supported by Shell UK – a multi-discipline para cycling race
- Guinness World Records title attempts featuring the world's largest Penny Farthing
The action concludes with the men's and women's elite races, bringing a star-studded criterium line-up to the City streets. The women's field features British Criterium Champion Kate Richardson, along with GB Cycling Team members Megan Barker (Rapha Cycling Club), Sophie Lewis (DAS Hutchinson), and Josie Knight (DAS Hutchinson). The men's field includes British Criterium Champion Cameron Mason (Alpecin Premier-Tech), Canadian Criterium Champion Mathias Guillemette (Tudor Pro Cycling), former Lidl-Trek and UAE-Emirates pro Ryan Gibbons, Olympic silver medallist Ollie Wood (Rapha Cycling Club), and former British Criterium Champion Matt Bostock (Rapha Cycling Club).
Festival Atmosphere
There will be a festival atmosphere around the racing, including the Cheapside Business Alliance Fan Zone at the Royal Exchange, which will feature a big screen providing a live feed of the racing. The event is supported by the City of London, the City of London Destination City Fund, and the Cheapside Business Alliance. It is free to attend for spectators, while the elite races will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and HBO Max from 8pm on Saturday.
Event Schedule
Friday 12th June: GOSH City Criterium, 13:00-19:00
- 13:00: Qualification
- 15:00: Team Relay Final
Saturday 13th June: Nocturne, 12:00-22:00
- 12:00: Ride the Circuit & Ridgeback Kids Test Rides
- 13:00: Support Race A - Men (cat 2/3), 45 minutes
- 14:00: Support Race - Women (cat 2/3/4), 45 minutes
- 15:00: Support Race B - Men (cat 2/3), 45 minutes
- 16:00: Voi Bike Challenge, 30 minutes
- 16:40: Interval – Guinness World Record title attempts
- 17:40: Penny Farthing Race, 30 minutes
- 18:30: Brompton Folding Bike Race, 30 minutes
- 19:10: Limitless Race supported by Shell UK, 40 minutes
- 20:00: Elite Criterium - Women (E/1/2), 50 minutes
- 21:00: Elite Criterium - Men (E/1/2), 50 minutes
For a full event schedule, visit www.racenocturne.com. The event is free to attend with tickets available to watch the racing from the finish line hospitality. Elite races will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, and other races will be streamed live on YouTube.
