RideLondon: Surrey gears up for cycle races

About 16,500 people participated in the inaugural race last August

Preparations for the RideLondon cycle races through London and Surrey have seen more than a million leaflets distributed along the route.

Organisers said 11 public information sessions would also be held and full details of road closures would be sent out in July.

Surrey County Council said the updates were to help residents and businesses make the most of the August event.

The council said tens of thousands of spectators lined the route last year.

The 2013 events, organised by the London & Surrey Cycling Partnership, raised millions for charity and for the Surrey economy, a council spokesman added.

The local authority had asked organisers to limit the impact on residents and businesses after some Surrey residents complained the 2013 event left them feeling trapped in their homes.

This year's route will allow easier access to towns and villages such as Dorking, Leatherhead and Esher.

This year's RideLondon-Surrey 100 event for 24,000 riders will begin at 06:00 BST on 10 August at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

At 13:00 the RideLondon Surrey Classic race for 150 of the world's top professional male riders will start.

About 16,500 people participated in the inaugural race last year.