The Ride of the Lions Waterloo 200 will be the most unique cycling event of 2015 and will provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of history. 

 

 

The Battle of Waterloo 

The Battle of Waterloo took place on June 18th 1815 at Waterloo, 20km south of Brussels and was the culmination of four days of fighting involving the forces of The Duke of Wellington and Field-Marshal Blucher on one side and the French Army under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte on the other. Waterloo was a significant event in defining the future landscape of Europe. Nations were formed as a consequence of it and fighting ceased across Europe for 50 years, although it came at a heavy price. 50,000 soldiers were dead or wounded at the end of intense conflict.

 

The New Waterloo Dispatch 

Significantly, we will be partnering the re-enactment of the message of victory sent by Wellington from the battlefield back to the East India Club in London. 

Two hundred years ago Major Percy was entrusted by the Duke of Wellington to take his written notice of victory (his Dispatch) by horse and carriage to the Prince Regent in London; who was eventually found at what is now the East India Club. The Ride of the Lions Waterloo 200 will recreate this journey alongside British & Irish Lions and a number of wounded veterans who are beneficiaries of Walking With The Wounded. 

 

Summary of Event: 

We will have 16 British & Irish Lions and 4 wounded veterans who are beneficiaries of Walking With The Wounded as part of a team of 200 cyclists. There will be 4 teams of 50 riders made up of 4 Lions, one wounded soldier, and 45 members of the public. All four teams will arrive in Belgium on the 18th of June (overnight in Brussels), and depart on the ride at 6.30am on the 19th from the Wellington Museum at Waterloo. This is where the original Dispatch was written. 

The cyclists will cycle 120 miles to Dunkirk where they take a ferry to Dover before riding to the Duke of York Military School for a event with parents and pupils. Riders will depart the following morning and cycle the remaining 80 miles into central London where they will finish at Hammersmith & Fulham RFC with a drinks reception. 

 

Hammersmith and Fulham RFC

Hurlingham Park
Hurlingham Road
Fulham
London SW6

 

Ride Teams: The 4 teams you will be assigned to are named after important figures from the Battle with particular reference to our story:

 

1) Uxbridge

2) Somerset

3) Ponsonby

4) Percy

 

For a brief summary of their part in Waterloo click HERE

 

 

Ride Itinerary:

 

Wednesday 17th June 2015: 

Pre-Ride Registration at Esher RFC between 4pm and 8pm. Riders will drop bikes off and collect kit and information packs . All riders will be given cycling shirts, bib shorts and a polo shirt.

 

Thursday 18th June 2015: 

6.00am departure from Hilton Hotel, Cobham to Thon Hotel in Brussels via coach and Eurotunnel. Arrive early afternoon and riders will attend Waterloo 200 ceremonies. Evening group dinner in hotel.

 

Friday 19th June 2015: 

Early breakfast in hotel before being shuttled to Wellington Museum where the bikes will be already set up and ready. The 4 ride groups will set off in waves at 15-minute intervals, starting at 7.00am with separate support crews. We will arrive at the ferry terminal at Dunkirk for a ferry to Dover at 18:00. Accommodation / drinks party Duke of York School, Dover. 

 

Saturday 20th June 2015: 

Riders leave Dover on their 80 mile route to St James’s Square. Our plan is to get all 4 ride groups to form up on the outskirts of London to ride the final few miles as a single pelaton via Westminster Bridge, Birdcage Walk, the Mall and St James’s Square. Hammersmith & Fulham RFC will act as the logistical finish for the Ride and on arrival there will be a drinks reception.