The 38th edition of the Otley Cycle Races takes place on Wednesday 26 June, Round 1 of the National Circuit Series. As you’d expect for such a prestigious event, there is a stacked field for both the open and women’s elite races.
Here is our preview…
Featured photo: SWpix.com
What is it?
The Otley Cycle Races is one of the most prestigious cycling events in the UK. The course runs through the heart of the picturesque Yorkshire market town of Otley, the birthplace of Lizzie Deignan.
It is more than just a sporting event; it is community celebration. The evening races create a vibrant atmosphere in Otley, with local businesses and residents coming together to support the event. The races also include various festivities, food stalls, and entertainment, making it a family-friendly occasion. The event includes a balance bike race, youth races and a men’s race for lower category riders, culminating in the two elite circuit races: the Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix and the Rayner Foundation Men’s Otley Grand Prix
The event has a rich history. The event was established by the Otley Cycle Club, one of Yorkshire’s most prominent cycling organisations, which itself has a storied history dating back to its formation in 1927.
The elite men’s race has been running since 1985 and previous winners include Jonny Clay, Chris Walker, Russell Downing, Steve Cummings, Mark Cavendish, Graham Briggs, local rider Scott Thwaites, Adam Blythe, Dan McLay, Chris Lawless, Matt Walls, Matt Bostock and Matt Gibson. Last year’s race was won by Jacob Scott, then of WiV SunGod. The elite women’s race began in 2013 and winners include Elinor Barker, hometown girl Lizzie Deignan, Jess Roberts and Eluned King.
In last year’s event, the victors were Bob Donaldson, the recently crowned under-23 national road race champion, and Sophie Lewis. Lewis (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) is back to defend her title this time around.
The circuit runs anticlockwise and is just over two kilometres long.
After rolling out from the flat finishing straight, riders take a left and then swing right up the circuit’s main climb, Burras Lane. It’s here that much of the attacking action should happen.
The first part is the steepest, but riders will benefit from the momentum they carry into it from the fast finishing straight. The road then dips a little before climbing again on a wide, well-surfaced road to the highest point, before the riders take two ninety-degree left turns onto Birdcage Walk.
This road here is fairly straight and flat. At the end of that stretch, riders turn left again, plunging back downhill towards the town centre. At the bottom of the hill is a left-hander into the finishing straight; 2015 Grand Prix winner Dan McLay once described this as ‘the best last corner in cycling.’ Getting this final bend right is crucial if you want to win this race. Get it wrong, and you can end up in the barriers. Once negotiated, the riders then have a dead straight 190 metres to the finish line.
The race often finishes in a bunch gallop, with that final corner crucial in deciding the winner. But a powerful break can also prevail, especially if the strongest teams have good representation in the escape.
The men’s race will cover approximately 50 km in 23 laps. The women’s race will cover around 31 km in 15 laps. For both races,there will be a lap board by the finish line for the last 9 laps.
Riders to watch
The provisional startlists for the open and women’s races are stacked with talent (see below), with both races looking wide open.
Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix
Defending champion Sophie Lewis heads up the women’s field. She is backed up by an ever-strong DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK, including local rider Robyn Clay, ninth in the national circuit race who suits this course and won the Newark Town Centre Races last season, and Frankie Hall, a strong crit rider who demonstrated her form with tenth in the national road race.
2024 East Cleveland Classic – Redcar and Cleveland and Saltburn by the Sea – Robyn Clay of DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK climbs Saltburn Bank. Image: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
Shibden Apex RT might be ‘just’ a junior team but has arguably the strongest line-up on the startlist. Star-in-the-making Cat Ferguson, shortly joining the Movistar Team, is their star attraction, with another big hitter, Imogen Wolff, winner at Trofeo Binda Juniors earlier this season, also one of the pre-race favourites. The squad also boast Lucy Glover, whose fast finish earned her victory at the Dudley Grand Prix last season, Alice Colling, who was a brilliant fifth in the national circuit race last week, and Esther Wong, who was also in the top ten at the national circuit race.
2024 East Cleveland Classic – Redcar and Cleveland and Saltburn by the Sea – Cat Ferguson of Shibden Apex RT wins. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
WorldTour rider Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck) is another strong contender. The Banbury-born 20-year-old was fifth in the national road race on Sunday. She won the Ilkley Grand Prix last year after finishing 4th in Otley, so expect her to feature prominently.
Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) came so close to winning the national circuit race last week after a daring long range attack on the final lap, pipped only by Emma Jeffers on the line. She’ll take great confidence from that and could go one better in Otley.Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea) was also on the podium at the nationals, driving down London the following evening to win the VIA Atelier circuit race. Can she continue her fine form here?
2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Championships – Circuit Race: Women – Darlington, County Durham, England – Eilidh Shaw of Alba Development Road Team (left) and Emma Jeffers of Liv AlUla Jayco (right) sprint for line. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Don’t discount Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd, always a force to be reckoned with in circuit races. Breakthrough rider Lucy Harris won the Loughborough Cycling Festival earlier this year and should find the lumpy circuit to her liking. Amy Gornall rode a solid nationals last week, putting in a strong solo move for glory on the penultimate lap before being reeled back in. And 2021 national circuit race champion Jo Tindley – second in the National Circuit Series in 2023 – adds additional experience and race knowhow.
2023 national circuit race champion Megan Barker (Tekkerz CC) is another contender. She may have lost her national jersey but seventh place at the national circuit race last week shows she is still in a position to challenge. Former Sheffield Grand Prix winner Monica Greenwood (Team Coop-Repsol) is another rider with the potential to win, just off the podium at the nationals with fourth.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Championships – Women’s Road Race – Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, England – Monica Greenwood of Team Coop-Repsol. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Who else? Loughborough Lightning’s Jenny Holl is an experienced circuit racer who finished in the top 15 at the nationals last week, and the same can be said for Megan Anderson (Team Boompods).
If the Shibden Apex RT juniors have the potential to shine, so do the Tofauti Everyone Active youngsters, including 2024 Gent – Wevelgem Juniors winner Amelia Cebak, and two-time Omloop Borsele Juniors stage victor this year Carys Lloyd.
Finally, last year’s National Circuit Series winner Corinne Side but 17th at the nationals suggests she might be on her way back.
The Rayner Foundation Men’s Otley Grand Prix
Tim Shoreman was one of the outstanding riders in the 2023 National Circuit Series and his form suggests he will be one to watch again in 2024. The 2023 Fort Colne GP victor has had a fine 2024 already, winning a stage of the Rás before finishing fourth in the national circuit race behind the Groupama-FDJ juggernaut. He is backed up by a strong Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli squad including Thomas Armstrong and Callum Laborde that will be seeking team honours in the Series this year.
2023 Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix, Colne, England – Tim Shoreman of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli wins. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
We’ve become accustomed to expecting Saint Piran domination in National Road Series races, but the squad doesn’t have the same strength in circuit races, especially without former national circuit race champ Ollie Wood, the injured Matt Gibson or crit crunchers Harry and Charlie Tanfield in their line-up. Don’t overlook the five-man line-up completely, however. Will Roberts was third in the Dudley Grand Prix last year and won a round of the Tour Series back in 2021. While Rhys Britton has a fast finish and finished ninth in Otley back the same year.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Championships – Circuit Race: Open – Darlington, County Durham, England – Matthew Bostock of Ribble Rebellion. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Ribble Rebellion launched earlier this year with the aim of ‘disrupting the global crit scene’. Whilst not was Groupama-FDJ that turned things upside down at the national circuit race, the team has nonetheless made a solid start with several wins in the US so far this year. The squad boasts former national circuit race champion Matt Bostock, Jim Brown, who was fifth in the nationals last week, and US rider Cole Davis who will hope to add UK wins to the victories he’s had in the States this year.
Crit specialist Alec Briggs (TEKKERZ CC) broke his duck in the National Circuit Series in 2023, winning the Newark Town Centre Races. He followed up seventh at the nationals on Friday with a win at the VIA Atelier race in London on Saturday. Teammate Rob Scott will be an excellent foil. Scott was one of the main protagonists in the nationals circuit race last week; he was second in Otley in 2021 and will hope to go one better this year.
2023 All About Desserts Newark Mens Grand Prix, Men’s National Circuit Series – Alec Briggs of TEKKERZ CC wins. Image: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
Next up we have a string of elite riders who have performed well in circuit races in recent years. Cai Davies (Richardsons Trek DAS) was incredibly consistent last year in the National Circuit Races bagging three top tens. Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) won the Loughborough Cycling Festival this year and secured fourth in the Sheffield Grand Prix in 2023, Will Truelove spearheads a strong Thriva-SRCT team after finishing an excellent ninth at the nationals circuit race, while David Hird was a regular at the pointy of races in last season’s National Circuit Series.
Two local riders now based on foreign UCI Continental teams might offer a threat. Jacob Scott (REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland) won this race in 2022 when he was in WiV SunGod colours, while Ollie Rees (Sabgal – Anicolor) is not stranger to this race either, finishing fourth in the same season.
Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com – 29/06/2022 – British Cycling – National Circuit Series – Round 1: Men’s Otley Grand Prix – Jacob Scott of WiV Sungod wins.
Junior riders can often thrive in this race. Think of Josh Tarling’s third place in the 2021 edition for example. His brother Finlay (Willebrord Wil Vooruit) lines up this year, can he repeat the feat?
Watch out too for talented under-23s Bjoern Koerdt (CC Etupes), Oliver Peace (Development Team DSM Firmenich PostNL), and Ben Wiggins (Hagens, all looking to make their mark at home.
Timings
The first of the races, the balance bike race, begins at 17.30.
Time
Race
17.30
In Gear Coaching balance bike race
18.00
MAS Design Super Prestige Youth Race for u16 boys
18.01
Otley Cycle Club Super Prestige Bike Race for u16 girls
18.40
Chevin Cycles Men’s Classic Race
19.30
Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix
20.30
The Rayner Foundation Men’s Otley Grand Prix
How to follow
TV
You will be able to stream the races with Monument Cycling TV. Get 30% of your subscription using this link.
Social media
Unfortunately we won’t be at the race this year but there will be race updates on the British Cycling social media channels.
The 38th edition of the Otley Cycle Races takes place on Wednesday 26 June, Round 1 of the National Circuit Series. As you’d expect for such a prestigious event, there is a stacked field for both the open and women’s elite races.
Here is our preview…
Featured photo: SWpix.com
What is it?
The Otley Cycle Races is one of the most prestigious cycling events in the UK. The course runs through the heart of the picturesque Yorkshire market town of Otley, the birthplace of Lizzie Deignan.
It is more than just a sporting event; it is community celebration. The evening races create a vibrant atmosphere in Otley, with local businesses and residents coming together to support the event. The races also include various festivities, food stalls, and entertainment, making it a family-friendly occasion. The event includes a balance bike race, youth races and a men’s race for lower category riders, culminating in the two elite circuit races: the Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix and the Rayner Foundation Men’s Otley Grand Prix
The event has a rich history. The event was established by the Otley Cycle Club, one of Yorkshire’s most prominent cycling organisations, which itself has a storied history dating back to its formation in 1927.
The elite men’s race has been running since 1985 and previous winners include Jonny Clay, Chris Walker, Russell Downing, Steve Cummings, Mark Cavendish, Graham Briggs, local rider Scott Thwaites, Adam Blythe, Dan McLay, Chris Lawless, Matt Walls, Matt Bostock and Matt Gibson. Last year’s race was won by Jacob Scott, then of WiV SunGod. The elite women’s race began in 2013 and winners include Elinor Barker, hometown girl Lizzie Deignan, Jess Roberts and Eluned King.
In last year’s event, the victors were Bob Donaldson, the recently crowned under-23 national road race champion, and Sophie Lewis. Lewis (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) is back to defend her title this time around.
The elite races form Round 1 of the 2024 National Circuit Series.
Route
The circuit runs anticlockwise and is just over two kilometres long.
After rolling out from the flat finishing straight, riders take a left and then swing right up the circuit’s main climb, Burras Lane. It’s here that much of the attacking action should happen.
The first part is the steepest, but riders will benefit from the momentum they carry into it from the fast finishing straight. The road then dips a little before climbing again on a wide, well-surfaced road to the highest point, before the riders take two ninety-degree left turns onto Birdcage Walk.
This road here is fairly straight and flat. At the end of that stretch, riders turn left again, plunging back downhill towards the town centre. At the bottom of the hill is a left-hander into the finishing straight; 2015 Grand Prix winner Dan McLay once described this as ‘the best last corner in cycling.’ Getting this final bend right is crucial if you want to win this race. Get it wrong, and you can end up in the barriers. Once negotiated, the riders then have a dead straight 190 metres to the finish line.
The race often finishes in a bunch gallop, with that final corner crucial in deciding the winner. But a powerful break can also prevail, especially if the strongest teams have good representation in the escape.
The men’s race will cover approximately 50 km in 23 laps. The women’s race will cover around 31 km in 15 laps. For both races, there will be a lap board by the finish line for the last 9 laps.
Riders to watch
The provisional startlists for the open and women’s races are stacked with talent (see below), with both races looking wide open.
Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix
Defending champion Sophie Lewis heads up the women’s field. She is backed up by an ever-strong DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK, including local rider Robyn Clay, ninth in the national circuit race who suits this course and won the Newark Town Centre Races last season, and Frankie Hall, a strong crit rider who demonstrated her form with tenth in the national road race.
Shibden Apex RT might be ‘just’ a junior team but has arguably the strongest line-up on the startlist. Star-in-the-making Cat Ferguson, shortly joining the Movistar Team, is their star attraction, with another big hitter, Imogen Wolff, winner at Trofeo Binda Juniors earlier this season, also one of the pre-race favourites. The squad also boast Lucy Glover, whose fast finish earned her victory at the Dudley Grand Prix last season, Alice Colling, who was a brilliant fifth in the national circuit race last week, and Esther Wong, who was also in the top ten at the national circuit race.
WorldTour rider Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck) is another strong contender. The Banbury-born 20-year-old was fifth in the national road race on Sunday. She won the Ilkley Grand Prix last year after finishing 4th in Otley, so expect her to feature prominently.
Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) came so close to winning the national circuit race last week after a daring long range attack on the final lap, pipped only by Emma Jeffers on the line. She’ll take great confidence from that and could go one better in Otley.Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea) was also on the podium at the nationals, driving down London the following evening to win the VIA Atelier circuit race. Can she continue her fine form here?Don’t discount Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd, always a force to be reckoned with in circuit races. Breakthrough rider Lucy Harris won the Loughborough Cycling Festival earlier this year and should find the lumpy circuit to her liking. Amy Gornall rode a solid nationals last week, putting in a strong solo move for glory on the penultimate lap before being reeled back in. And 2021 national circuit race champion Jo Tindley – second in the National Circuit Series in 2023 – adds additional experience and race knowhow.
2023 national circuit race champion Megan Barker (Tekkerz CC) is another contender. She may have lost her national jersey but seventh place at the national circuit race last week shows she is still in a position to challenge. Former Sheffield Grand Prix winner Monica Greenwood (Team Coop-Repsol) is another rider with the potential to win, just off the podium at the nationals with fourth.
Who else? Loughborough Lightning’s Jenny Holl is an experienced circuit racer who finished in the top 15 at the nationals last week, and the same can be said for Megan Anderson (Team Boompods).
If the Shibden Apex RT juniors have the potential to shine, so do the Tofauti Everyone Active youngsters, including 2024 Gent – Wevelgem Juniors winner Amelia Cebak, and two-time Omloop Borsele Juniors stage victor this year Carys Lloyd.
Finally, last year’s National Circuit Series winner Corinne Side but 17th at the nationals suggests she might be on her way back.
The Rayner Foundation Men’s Otley Grand Prix
Tim Shoreman was one of the outstanding riders in the 2023 National Circuit Series and his form suggests he will be one to watch again in 2024. The 2023 Fort Colne GP victor has had a fine 2024 already, winning a stage of the Rás before finishing fourth in the national circuit race behind the Groupama-FDJ juggernaut. He is backed up by a strong Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli squad including Thomas Armstrong and Callum Laborde that will be seeking team honours in the Series this year.
We’ve become accustomed to expecting Saint Piran domination in National Road Series races, but the squad doesn’t have the same strength in circuit races, especially without former national circuit race champ Ollie Wood, the injured Matt Gibson or crit crunchers Harry and Charlie Tanfield in their line-up. Don’t overlook the five-man line-up completely, however. Will Roberts was third in the Dudley Grand Prix last year and won a round of the Tour Series back in 2021. While Rhys Britton has a fast finish and finished ninth in Otley back the same year.
Ribble Rebellion launched earlier this year with the aim of ‘disrupting the global crit scene’. Whilst not was Groupama-FDJ that turned things upside down at the national circuit race, the team has nonetheless made a solid start with several wins in the US so far this year. The squad boasts former national circuit race champion Matt Bostock, Jim Brown, who was fifth in the nationals last week, and US rider Cole Davis who will hope to add UK wins to the victories he’s had in the States this year.
Crit specialist Alec Briggs (TEKKERZ CC) broke his duck in the National Circuit Series in 2023, winning the Newark Town Centre Races. He followed up seventh at the nationals on Friday with a win at the VIA Atelier race in London on Saturday. Teammate Rob Scott will be an excellent foil. Scott was one of the main protagonists in the nationals circuit race last week; he was second in Otley in 2021 and will hope to go one better this year.
Next up we have a string of elite riders who have performed well in circuit races in recent years. Cai Davies (Richardsons Trek DAS) was incredibly consistent last year in the National Circuit Races bagging three top tens. Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) won the Loughborough Cycling Festival this year and secured fourth in the Sheffield Grand Prix in 2023, Will Truelove spearheads a strong Thriva-SRCT team after finishing an excellent ninth at the nationals circuit race, while David Hird was a regular at the pointy of races in last season’s National Circuit Series.
Two local riders now based on foreign UCI Continental teams might offer a threat. Jacob Scott (REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland) won this race in 2022 when he was in WiV SunGod colours, while Ollie Rees (Sabgal – Anicolor) is not stranger to this race either, finishing fourth in the same season.
Junior riders can often thrive in this race. Think of Josh Tarling’s third place in the 2021 edition for example. His brother Finlay (Willebrord Wil Vooruit) lines up this year, can he repeat the feat?
Watch out too for talented under-23s Bjoern Koerdt (CC Etupes), Oliver Peace (Development Team DSM Firmenich PostNL), and Ben Wiggins (Hagens, all looking to make their mark at home.
Timings
The first of the races, the balance bike race, begins at 17.30.
How to follow
TV
You will be able to stream the races with Monument Cycling TV. Get 30% of your subscription using this link.
Social media
Unfortunately we won’t be at the race this year but there will be race updates on the British Cycling social media channels.
Provisional startlists
Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix
10CaitlinDimblebyAlba Development Road Team14EilidhShawAlba Development Road Team16AmeliaTylerAlba Development Road Team28ConnieHayesDoltcini – OShea44PhilippaDraperLoughborough Lightning83LaurenLanghamTeam Boompods88MollyPatchThe Phoenix Collective101KateRichardsonLifeplus Wahoo102MadelineCooperMontezuma’s Race TeamReserves
122RubyBlanc360cyclingThe Rayner Foundation Men’s Otley Grand Prix
3JackHartleyCycling Sheffield52BenjaminTuchnerTEKKERZ CC62JoePidcockTrinity Racing65AaronKingWheelbase CabTech Castelli72HenryHobbsWillebrord Wil Vooruit107SamKettlewellSpirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling109NathanSmithTeam Novo NordiskShare this:
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