This summer, London’s King’s Cross is set to welcome back the VIA Criterium and The London Cycle Festival, which returns for a third consecutive year on June 20-22, 2025.
The London Cycle Festival and VIA Criterium are brought to life by the team behind VIA Atelier, a premium cycling concept store based in King’s Cross, London, UK.
The event weekend is committed to promoting health and fitness and green initiatives within the community.
In 2024, the festival and its associated racing action reportedly attracted over 90,000 visitors. More than 1,000 riders from around the world took to the streets to take on a fast and technical circuit in a series of races around the unique multi-level setting of Coal Drops Yard and the wider King’s Cross Estate.
In a release VIA Atelier stated that… ‘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 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 ‘amphitheatre’, a dog leg on Granary Square and a 200m ‘full gas sprint’ for position along the ‘VIA Straight’ of Stable Street.
VIA Atelier added that… ‘Heart-in-mouth, no gears, no brakes fixie racing also returns for 2025, alongside a packed programme of British Cycling sanctioned road bike races.’
New to this year’s event will be the VIA Gravel Race. Starting at the VIA Race Village on Sunday June 22, 2025, at 07:30 GMT and returning to the same location, on offer will be a 70km loop or a more challenging 120km route.
Both routes head out to the Hertfordshire countryside where riders will take on fast flowing single track, scenic farmland and woodlands. There will be timed sectors, sprinkling in an additional challenge for those who want to compete. Support and refreshments will be provided along the way.
In addition to the racing action, The London Cycle Festival will once again feature three exhibition areas, allowing visitors to interact with some their favourite brands.
Cycling clothing brand Rapha will be in attendance with exclusive VIA Criterium x Rapha merch. 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 bike offeringsat 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 RCR-F, Van Rysel’s latest aero bike.
