OTLEY'S World Champion cyclist Lizzie Armitstead has capped a remarkable year by winning a Yorkshire Young Achievers Award.

The 26-year-old was named the competition's 2015 Achievement in Sport winner during a ceremony at Leeds United’s Centenary Pavilion last week.

That honour has come in the same year Lizzie became the reigning World, Commonwealth and National road race champion – and also got engaged.

The cyclist is now based in Monaco and fully focused on going one better than her silver medal achievement of London 2012, by winning gold at the Rio Olympics next year.

So her parents, Otley couple John and Carol Armitstead, were in Leeds to collect the award on her behalf from Leeds United legend Peter Lorimer.

Mrs Armitstead said: "It was a pleasure to accept the award on Lizzie's behalf.

"She has been pretty busy after winning the World Championships, so was unable to make it on the night.

"Obviously, she was delighted to win the Young Achievers award and she is always proud of her Yorkshire background, especially as we have done so well across all sports.

"The Wharfe Valley has such a strong cycling scene, from Wetherby up through Otley and Ilkley to Skipton, that there is tremendous amount of local support for her, which she appreciates.

"This award will mean a lot to her, I'm sure."

Lizzie had also sent a film, showing herself receiving the honour, which was shown on the night.

Summing up her achievements, the 23rd Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards – sponsored by McCormicks Solicitors – noted that: "Cyclist Lizzie Armitstead is currently the World, Commonwealth and National Champion.

"She took up cycling in 2004 and has gone from strength to strength, culminating in the UCI Road World Championships in Virginia in September this year when she became only the fourth British woman to take the title, following in the footsteps of Yorkshire’s legendary Beryl Burton."

The awards mark the achievements of people aged 35 and under across seven categories, and are organised by the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation.

Awards Chairman, Peter McCormick OBE, reflecting on this year's winners, said: "We had some prime examples of what it takes to be a Yorkshire Young Achiever, with some fantastic winners in every category."