UAE Team Emirates Set for Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic Debut

Briton Ben Swift leads strong six-man line-up 

United Arab Emirates. Thursday, 27 July 2017:  Fresh from competing in last week’s Tour de France, UAE Team Emirates’ resident Brit, Ben Swift will lead the charge as the team compete in the newly appointed UCI World Tour race, Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic.

Amongst the UAE Team Emirates line-up are Italian riders Simone Consonni, Federico Zurlo, Filippo Ganna, Oliviero Troia, Slovenian Marko Kump and Norweigian Vegard Stake Laengen, whom like Swift, also competed at La Grande Boucle.

Fondly remembering his previous participation in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic, where he had two podium finishes in 2015 & 2014, Swift said: “I like this race as I have great memories of my past participation, having been on the podium twice in a row. However, this year the situation is different, now the race is part of the WorldTour calendar it has attracted UCI WorldTour teams raising the standard of the competition. I hope to make the most of my good form after the Tour.  I am delighted I get to race in London as this will probably be my only chance to race in England with the team this season.”

This year will mark the fifth edition of the race and is Great Britain’s first UCI WorldTour race. The race itself, a 200km route based on the 2012 London Olympic Games road race, has been dubbed “richest one-day race” with a prize fund of €100,000 (Euros) – the biggest fund of any one-day Classic on the UCI World Tour. 

Confirming the line-up, UAE Team Emirates’ Sporting Director Marzano said: “We have a group of fast riders we can depend on. Swift knows the race very well from previous participations which is an advantage. However, we will be counting on the rest of the team for their support. Some of the other riders, Troia, Ganna and Zurlo will be looking for the opportunity to join any breakaways.”