TOM Pidcock proved again at last week's Otley Town Centre Races that he is a rider with a bright future.

The 15-year-old overcame the disappointment of being pipped by Harry Hardcastle in a sprint finish to the under-16 race by winning the Chevin Cycles Classic just minutes later.

Pidcock broke clear of the field on the final lap to record a comfortable win in a race which his father, Giles – the Otley event's race director – won in 2006 and 2009.

Young Pidcock, an Olympic Development apprentice, has been adding victories to his blossoming CV with great regularity this summer.

He has won the men's and youth races in the town centre events at Pontefract, Doncaster, Harrogate and Ilkley.

Three days after racing at Otley he was competing in omnium at the National Track Championships where he came fifth.

Next up for him is the National Youth Road Race Championships at Paisley and later this month, the National Mountain Bike Championships at Hadleigh Farm in Essex.

His current form is helping to push his claims for selection for the Great Britain team which will compete at the Youth Olympics in Georgia, later this summer.

Giles Pidcock is clearly delighted by his son's performances. He said: "Tom told me after he had lost the under-16 race that he was going go for it in the men's race and he certainly did."

Giles is much happier talking about the Otley event as a whole and was delighted that the spectators again turned out in their thousands to support the event.

The crowd was estimated at around 12,000 on what was the hottest July day on record – great conditions for the race.

He said: "It was good to see strong fields and close racing throughout the evening. It was also important that the three to five year olds got the chance to have their own little race on balanced bikes down the main straight.

"It is my view that this could become an event in its own right in the future. It is important that events like ours help to encourage youngsters to take up cycling."