Nearly 30,000 cyclists came through Kingston and Surrey as part of this year’s Prudential RideLondon.

Cyclists from elite teams were joined by thousands of amateur riders as they took on the route from Queen Elizabeth Park, through London and Surrey and back to finish on the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

Now in its fifth year, RideLondon was set up by the Mayor of London in 2013 to encourage participation in cycling and to provide a legacy for the 2012 Olympics.

Kingston was a popular spot for spectators of the ride as the route took cyclists through town on both the outbound and return journeys.

A big screen was put up in the Ancient Market Place, and there was street entertainment, music and a BMX stunt show to create a festival atmosphere.

In total, 23,438 riders completed the full 100-mile route, and 4,407 people finished the 46-mile alternative, which was new this year.

This shorter sportive was organised to encourage younger and newer cyclists to take part in the festival, with a route that only briefly ventured into Surrey.

Denise Turner-Stewart, Surrey Council member for communities, said: “Surrey has once again played host to amateur and world-famous cyclists alike riding through the county’s scenic countryside.

“It’s fantastic to see cheering crowds lining the streets as Prudential RideLondon showcases Surrey to a global audience, raising millions for charity and boosting funding for grassroots sports across the county.

“As Mark Cavendish said, Surrey is now ‘an iconic place in the world’ for cycling.”

On Saturday, around 70,000 people pedalled around 10 miles of closed roads in central London, meaning over the weekend the festival attracted 100,000 cyclists.

London’s walking and cycling commissioner Will Norman said: “This is the greatest cycling festival in the world, without doubt.

“Having the best cyclists in the world riding alongside tens of thousands of amateur cyclists is a celebration of cycling as a whole, and shows that London is open to top-class sporting events.

“Cycling is at the heart of the Mayor’s policies and this event inspires people to begin cycling. We want to double the number of daily cycling journeys in London by 2026 and build it into people’s everyday lives.”