Prudential RideLondon to become first British event on World Tour schedule

The 125-mile one-day classic, won on Sunday by Belgium's Tom Boonen, is the first British event on the schedule and one of 10 new additions as the UCI expands the 2017 tour to 37 events.

The Amgen Tour of California and further tours of Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Turkey take the number of stage races to 14 alongside the three grand tours - the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.

UCI president Brian Cookson told the organisation's website: "The publication of this new calendar is an important step in the development of men's professional road cycling.

"Alongside the prestigious events which have already proven their worth, the UCI WorldTour is enriched by the addition of some truly fantastic races across the globe. I'm delighted to see this development."

RideLondon has been scheduled for July 30 next year, the day after the Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian in Spain and alongside the Tour of Poland, which runs from July 29 to August 4.

Boonen overcame a breakaway by Britain's Geraint Thomas to win Sunday's race in the finish on the Mall.

The event was also marked by the death of a rider in the 100-mile mass-participation ride, 48-year-old cancer survivor and fundraiser Robin Chard from Bicester, from a cardiac arrest.