Bike race route cut amid rain fears

The bike race in which thousands of cyclists are riding from London to Surrey has been shortened by 14 miles amid a forecast of heavy rain. Organisers of RideLondon said they "reluctantly" made the decision to cut the race from 100 miles to 86 after information from the Met Office as the effects of Hurricane Bertha's remnants are felt in the UK. The route will now miss out a section covering Leith Hill and Box Hill in Surrey due to predictions of heavy rain. More than 22,000 amateur riders are taking part in the race, which finishes on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace. The professional riders head out from the Olympic park in east London at 1pm.