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.SportsBeat Staff18:00, 10 Jun 2026The City of London Nocturne will bring a festival of racing to the Square Mile this weekend. On Friday 12th and Saturday 13th June, two wheels will be at the heart of the City, kicking off with the GOSH City Criterium on Friday. This new charity Pro-Am team challenge will see 20 corporate teams joined by pro riders on a closed road circuit around Guildhall in a team relay format.The cohort of pros taking part is a mixture of current elite cyclists and some legends of the sport, notably 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. Then on Saturday, the action continues with racing taking place on a thrilling 1.3 km closed-road circuit weaving through Cheapside and Bank, right in the heart of the City of London.The racing programme runs from midday to 10pm with a host of exciting events including:The Brompton Folding Bike RaceThe 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 raceGuinness World Records title attempts featuring the world’s largest Penny FarthingThe 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 as well as GB Cycling Team members Megan Barker (Rapha Cycling Club), Sophie Lewis (DAS Hutchinson), and Josie Knight (DAS Hutchinson).And in the men’s field, 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) will all compete.There will be festival atmosphere around the racing including the Cheapside Business Alliance Fan Zone at the Royal Exchange which will have a big screen providing a live feed of the racing.This 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.For a full event schedule go to www.racenocturne.comABOUT CITY OF NOCTURNENocturne is a night-time criterium (circuit race). In partnership with the City of London, we are bringing world-class cycle racing to the City streets on 12-13 June 2026. The reimagined Nocturne will span two action-packed days, introducing an exciting new format designed to create a spectacular festival of bike racing.Friday 12th June: GOSH City Criterium - 13:00-19:00Saturday 13th June: Nocturne - 12:00-22:00The 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.RACE PROGRAMMEFRIDAY 12 JUNEEvent starts: 13:00 - Event closes: 19:00Timings are provisional and may be subject to change13:00GOSH City Criterium - Qualification15:00GOSH City Criterium - Team Relay FinalSATURDAY 13 JUNEEvent starts: 12:00 - Event closes: 22:00Timings are provisional and may be subject to change12:00Ride the Circuit & Ridgeback Kids Test RidesFree riding on circuit13:00Support Race A - Men (cat 2/3)45 minutes14:00Support Race - Women (cat 2/3/4)45 minutes15:00Support Race B - Men (cat 2/3)45 minutes16:00Voi Bike Challenge30 minutes16:40INTERVAL- Guinness World Record title attempts17:40Penny Farthing Race30 minutes18:30Brompton Folding Bike Race30 minutes19:10Limitless Race supported by Shell UK40 minutes20:00Elite Criterium - Women (E/1/2)50 minutes21:00Elite Criterium - Men (E/1/2)Article continues below50 minutes
World Class Bike Racing comes to London this weekend in new major cycling event
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.
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