With just a few days to go, London’s King’s Cross is ready to welcome the return of the VIA Criterium and The London Cycle Festival, returning for the 3rd consecutive year on 20-22 June 2025.

This year, in addition to the two-wheeled fun, the inaugural Tracksmith Solstice 3k running event will get underway concurrently, promising flat out circuit racing, social runs and longer distance runs for both elites and amateurs throughout the weekend.

With an expected 90,000 visitors of all ages and more than 2,000 riders and runners signed up to compete and participate on the unique fast and technical closed roads circuit through Coal Drops Yard and the wider King’s Cross Estate, the event promises to be a celebration of endurance sports unlike any other.

VIA Criterium

After a thrilling 2024 edition packed with high-octane racing across all levels, from juniors to elite men and women, the VIA Criterium returns for 2025, promising to be even bigger, faster, and more exciting.

Set on a fully closed-road circuit created with British Cycling, the race highlights the best of King’s Cross, offering over 80% spectator visibility and a range of elevated viewing points. Riders will descend into the dramatic Coal Drops Yard amphitheatre, navigate a sharp dogleg at Granary Square, and sprint flat-out for 200m along the iconic ‘VIA Straight’ on Stable Street.

Also returning for 2025 is the heart-pounding fixie racing: no gears, no brakes, alongside a full programme of British Cycling-sanctioned road races.

New this year is the Oakley GRA-VIA gravel race, setting off from the VIA Race Village at 07:30 on Sunday 22 June. The 120 km route heads into the scenic Hertfordshire countryside. Expect flowing singletrack, open farmland, and magical woodlands, with timed sectors adding a competitive twist. Support and refreshments from top cycling brands will be available throughout, and riders will be greeted with pizza and beer upon their return to the festival.

The VIA Criterium will also host the fan-favourite Brompton World Championships – which never fails to deliver a spectacle of laughs, impressive and whacky costumes alongside high speed folding bike racing with a Le Mans style start.

GRA-VIA entry is via Eventbrite at – www.eventbrite.com/e/gra-via-tickets-1309850862189
British Cycling sanctioned races can be entered through the British Cycling website from now at www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/316980/VIA-CRIT.
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.
PELOTON is joining this year’s VIA Race Village and offering curated class programming with PELOTON Instructor Ben Alldis leading a selection of bodyweight strength classes on Saturday 21st June at 8.30 and 9.30am. Spaces within the class will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Throughout the weekend, consumers can also visit PELOTON’s stand within the VIA Race Village and have a guided trial of the PELOTON Bike+ and Tread. For each 5-minute ride or run completed across the weekend, a £5 donation (up to £1,500) will be made to Sporting Equals*.
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 from the likes of MJ Cole 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 Bike Project, a charity that helps refugees by refurbishing and donating second-hand bikes to people seeking asylum across the UK will be hosting a fundraising raffle (with tickets symbolically priced at £8.86 – the weekly allowance many refugees receive when they are provided with board and lodging), selling Bike Project merchandise, running fun, hands-on activities, and launching a scavenger hunt ride-out from the event village. In addition, various members of the Bike Project’s refugee community will be participating in races throughout the weekend.
Solstice 3k
Featuring a weekend of open, mixed participation races and events for the whole running community, coupled with elite-level competition for fans of the sport, the inaugural Solstice 3k promises to be a concentrated celebration of running like no other.
New England-born performance running gear brand Tracksmith will be bringing its signature community vibes, presenting the elite racing on Friday night as event partner, whilst also hosting the Tracksmith Solstice 5km & 10km community runs, starting and finishing at the VIA Atelier store on Stable Street.
The London Cycle Festival, VIA Criterium and Solstice 3k 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.