Meet the riders: Hannah Williams, Knight Frank

Hannah Williams is back to ride Cycle to MIPIM as part of team and headline sponsor Knight Frank for the second time, and this year she will be a Ride Captain for Team SLR. She is also co-leading the regular Wednesday morning Regent's Park laps, and knows only too well how these are really good prep for the cold, dark, early morning starts on Cycle to MIPIM. 

• Tell us about yourself and what you’re working on right now:

I'm an Associate in the Residential Development & Investment, Valuation & Advisory team at Knight Frank. I currently advise institutional investors, multi-national debt lenders, private investors and property companies on residential investments including Build to Rent, Co-Living and Single Family Housing assets across London and the UK. This includes both stabilised assets as well as development sites.

• How did you get involved in Cycle to MIPIM?

Having been wanting to do either pedElle or Cycle to MIPIM for a few years, I took the plunge and signed up for MIPIM last year and absolutely loved the week! I’m looking forward to returning again in a new capacity as Ride Captain.

• How long have you been cycling and how did you get into it?

I got into cycling classically during lockdown on a too big and large hybrid bike. Once hooked, I upgraded to a road bike, joined a club and made cycling-mad friends who have got me into numerous cycling adventures, sportives, the occasional Ironman and even Crit races. Doing MIPIM last year, really catapulted my cycling fitness. 

• What have you most enjoyed about riding previous Cycle to MIPIMs?

I loved the community feel and diverse range of people across the industry you connect with. Last year, by day 5 I had somehow managed to ride each stage, I really felt the support of other riders believing in me (and crucially lending me spare dry kit) to complete the whole feat! Also the friends made, my then ride captain Livy inspired me to complete the ride and ever since we’ve been pedalling around Surrey and Kent together. Finally, the whole experience that Club Peloton create for the riders, as they do such an excellent job organising us all ensuring that we continuously roll to Cannes like clockwork. 

• What are you most looking forward to?

 I’m most looking forward to encouraging others to achieve more than they think they can over the ride.  

• What are you dreading?

Any rain and freezing conditions. Last year (aside from Day 5 Stage 5, a recurringly bad stage I have been told) we were very lucky with the conditions, so I’m hoping that my luck doesn’t run out!

• How are you approaching training?

I’m co-leading the Club Peloton Wednesday morning Regents Park laps (which prepped me immensely last year for the early dark cold mornings) as well as getting out on the weekends with other riders for the longer milage rides. 

• Any top tips for new riders?

Its not a sprint, so focus more on training for time on the bike and don’t forget about hill training for the final couple of days! Reach out to any previous riders, as they will more than happy to help answer any questions. 

• What would you most like to get out of the event?

Making new friends in the industry as well as (hopefully) gaining some cycling fitness!

• What does the fundraising mean to you?

Knowing that the money raised will make a huge difference to young lives and families makes it worth the temporary pain of some of the hills and wetter stages!

• What changes does your business expect to see over the next year?

It’s exciting working the living sector as we are expecting investors to increase their exposure to the living sector over the next 5 years, resulting in a further c. £45 billion being invested into the sector. This is off the back of a £10billion worth of total investments in 2024, accounting for 25% of overall real estate acquisition. We are expecting Single Family Housing and Co-Living to continue to grow, these once niche asset classes are attracting more and more institutional players. Finally, we expect, at least in the short term, that most of the increased investment will come into the market via joint ventures. 

You can sponsor Hannah and the other Knight Frank riders here.