quoted
[UPDATE:!]
The change in the rules came about after a special request from cycle campaigning organisations and local authorities keen to use the event to promote everyday cycling.
The uniform anonymity of a fully helmeted peloton is thought by some to alienate non-cyclists and, while inspiring some to take up racing, may not generate the quotidian, utilitarian cycling – to shops, schools or for commuting - that leads to reduced congestion, pollution and improved health.
