VIA Criterium and The London Cycle Festival Return to the Capital This Summer
- 2025 edition to take place in King's Cross 20-22 June
- Last year's event attracted more than 90k visitors
London UK - This summer, London’s King’s Cross is set to welcome back one of the biggest dates in the UK cycling calendar, the VIA Criterium and The London Cycle Festival, which returns for the 3rd consecutive year on 20-22 June 2025.
The VIA Criterium and London Cycle Festival attracted over 90,000 visitors in 2024, offering a varied programme for cycling enthusiasts, spectators and participants of all ages to enjoy. More than 1,000 riders from around the world took to the track to take on this fast and technical circuit in a series of exhilarating races around the unique multi-level setting of Coal Drops Yard and the wider King’s Cross Estate.
VIA Criterium
Building on a stellar 2024 event which featured high octane racing at all levels, from junior to elite men and women cyclists and everyone in between, the VIA Criterium promises to be even bigger and better for 2025.
The closed-roads racing circuit has been created in association with British Cycling and showcases the best of the historic King’s Cross estate, with over 80% of the route offering spectacular viewing access and a wide variety of elevated vantage points for spectators. Riders will take on a ramped descent into the two tiered Coal Drops Yard ‘amphitheater’, a dog leg on Granary Square and a 200m full gas sprint for position along the ‘VIA Straight’ of Stable Street.
Heart-in-mouth, no gears, no brakes fixie racing also returns for 2025, alongside a packed programme of British Cycling sanctioned road bike races.
Entirely new to this year’s event will be the VIA Gravel Race. Starting at the VIA Race Village on Sunday 22nd June at 07.30 and returning to the same location, on offer will be a fun 70 km loop or a more challenging 120 km epic. The stunning routes head out to the glorious Hertfordshire countryside where riders will take on fast flowing single track, scenic farmland and through magical woodlands. There will be timed sectors along the way, sprinkling in an additional challenge for those who want to compete. Support and refreshments will be provided along the way by some of the best-loved cycling brands.
British Cycling sanctioned races can be entered through the British Cycling website from now at www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/316980/VIA-CRIT. A full race and ride schedule will be published in the coming weeks.
The London Cycle Festival
In addition to the racing action, The London Cycle Festival will once again feature three exhibition areas, allowing visitors to interact with their favourite brands.
Cycling clothing brand Rapha will be there with exclusive VIA Criterium x Rapha merch and to celebrate all things racing – from taking over the circuit for pre-race coaching sessions to nurture fresh talent, to supporting hometown heroes Tekkerz CC as Alec Briggs and Nimai Inniss defend their titles in the open races.
Meanwhile, Oakley will be holding a Solstice Ride Out on Saturday morning and also presenting its cycling eyewear and a new range of helmets for visitors to try on. Spanning the VIA Race Village in Coal Drops Yard, Lewis Cubitt Park and Granary Square, the Festival will celebrate cycling in all its forms, with live demonstrations, workshops, community activities, music and street food vendors.
Returning for 2025, performance bike brand Van Rysel will once again showcase its cutting-edge design credentials at the London Cycle Festival. Visitors can get up close with the RCR Pro, the race-winning machine that powered the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale WorldTour team to an impressive 30 victories last season. Also making its festival debut is the highly anticipated RCR-F, Van Rysel’s latest aero bike, designed for pure speed and engineered to compete at the highest level. The brand's expert team and ambassadors on hand to guide you through the latest models and technology.
The London Cycle Festival and VIA Criterium are brought to life by the team behind VIA Atelier, the premium cycling concept store based in King’s Cross, designed by cyclists, run by cyclists. The event is committed to promoting health and fitness and green initiatives within the community. The weekend will see people of all ages – from toddlers to the over 60’s – experience cycling in a safe, secure and closely monitored environment.
Follow VIA on Instagram @via-atelier.cc and visit www.via-atelier.cc for news and announcements.
Additional Information
Images from 2024's event are available here.
Sam Doll
About VIA Atelier
Founded by Michael Sodeau in 2022, VIA is London’s leading cycling concept store, located in the iconic Coal Drops Yard redevelopment of London’s King’s Cross. A gallery-style showroom, housed in a beautifully restored grain store in the historic Kings Cross development, features a mix of the world’s best cycling brands alongside a café and mechanics’ station. VIA is the perfect place to start or end a ride, or just pop by to idle away the time with a coffee whilst fully immersed in cycling.
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Note: A criterium is a bicycle race over a closed circuit course.
