Otley gears up for City Centre cycle race (From Ilkley Gazette)

Otley gears up for City Centre cycle race

11:46am Thursday 11th June 2009

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The best of Britain’s racing cyclists will join a stronger then ever line-up of local riders in Otley town centre for the Chevin Cycles Otley Town Centre Cycle Races on Wednesday, June 24. The event returns to its traditional slot on the longest Wednesday of the year and with renewed support from local councils, businesses and volunteers will once again offer high quality free entertainment to crowds of thousands.

Featuring a British Cycling Elite Series circuit race the event hopes to showcase many of the riders who have given the sport such a high profile in the past year.

There are supporting races for local amateur riders and a youth race with categories for under-16, under-14 and under-12.

Undaunted by the fearsome deluge that dampened their first attempt at race management last year, the same team of volunteers is now working very hard to make 2009 Chevin Cycles Otley Cycle Races the best ever. Race organiser Graeme Collin, from Guiseley, said: “We are lucky to have 23 years of tradition and local support for these races. For the 24th edition we aim to build on this by changing and improving wherever we can, especially in partnership with our sponsors. That way we can attract the top riders, give better information to spectators and stage an event the whole town can be proud of.”

With the whole event generously backed by Chevin Cycles of Otley, each race also benefits from its own sponsor this year. The WGC Landscapes Youth Races once again provide a great introduction to bike racing for the champions of the future: this year there are events at under-16, under-14, under-12 and under-10 level, and riders can enter on the night. In a new development, the under-16 race will set off just behind the classic race, and cover six full laps while the younger riders will race laps up and down the finish straight on Bondgate from 8pm, enjoying the closed roads and big-race atmosphere.

The M Solutions Management Classic brings out 100 of the best local team and club riders to do battle over 16 laps of the tricky Otley circuit. Local competition is hotter than ever this year, and with many new teams acquiring sponsors and a more professional approach the classic race promise to be a real humdinger.

Feature race the Hesco Bastion Elite Circuit Race provides the lightning-fast finale to the evening’s entertainment. With full rider details expected shortly, the oganisers are promising a mix of the top UK professional teams and even some Olympic medallists. This race is once again part of the British Cycling Elite Circuit Series and is acknowledged as one of the toughest circuit races on the calendar.

Big crowds traditionally gather on the start/finish straight on Bondgate, where there is also plenty of opportunity to get refreshments from The Junction, the Rose and Crown and Bondgate Bakery. This year, organisers have also arranged for coffee and ice-cream to be available while Bondgate Fisheries will be open throughout the evening to feed hungry spectators.

In previous years many local residents have come out of their houses onto the circuit - although last year’s weather put paid to a number of barbecues! - to add to the festive atmosphere. With a total prize fund over £1,500, the evening finishes with presentations to all the winners on the British Cycling podium at the top of Kirkgate at around 9.30pm.

Road closure information and an invitation to the party is being distributed door to door to affected residents.

Last year’s elite race, the 23rd annual event, was won in atrocious conditions by Graham Briggs and it featured Otley’s rookie pro Sam Webster, who signed for the top Pinarello team the previous January and had been living in Belgium competing on the tough European circuit.

Webster, 18, showed all the skills he has honed in a tough baptism in Europe being up with the leading bunch throughout.

Showing the standing he now has he was bitterly disappointed with his 12th place in a bunch finish but he was rewarded with the prize for the best Under-23 rider.

His ride however must be taken in context and as the apprentice in the Pinarello team his job was to pave the way for his more senior teammates to gain precious points in the series.

One of the race organisers John McPherson said: “There was a threeway scrap between the Pinarellos, Plowman Craven and Rapha Condor and I reckon Russell Downing was Pinarello’s chosen man on the night.

This meant that Sam had to spend some time dragging the bunch up to escaping riders from other teams to make sure Downing had a chance to contest the sprint (which in the end he only narrowly lost). To still have the legs to finish anywhere in the top 20 after that was brilliant.”

Webster was in the top three for part of the race as the 77 riders completed circuit after circuit of the one-hour, 26 mile race on the closed-off town centre circuit.

Webster’s Pinarello teammates, former Tour de France rider Malcolm Elliott and Russ Downing, were prominent throughout and indeed Downing finished second to Rapha Condor’s Briggs in the sprint finish.

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