After Round 1 in Otley on Wednesday, the National Circuit Series makes the short trip over to Ilkley on Friday (28 June) for the 10th edition of the popular Ilkley Cycle Races.
Here’s our preview.
Featured photo: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
What is it?
Just six miles away from the scene of Round 1 of the National Circuit Series in Otley, Ilkley hosts Round 2 this Friday evening. The Ilkley Cycle Races has been running since 2014 and has quickly established itself as a popular event, with a good atmosphere and enthusiastic crowds.
As well as two elite races (the Ilkley CC Women’s Grand Prix and the Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix), the event also features an under-16s race and a Cat 2/3/4 and a Masters race.
The elite men’s race has previously been won by Alex Dalton (2014), Pete Williams (2015), Scott Thwaites (2016), Tobyn Horton (2017), Tom Moses (2018 and 2019), Reece Wood (2021), and Sam Watson (2022, who won in controversial circumstances). Victors of the women’s elite race, meanwhile, have been Melissa Lowther (2014), Henrietta Colbourne (2015), Rebecca Womersley (2016), Annie Simpson (2017 and 2018), Emily Meakin (2019), Megan Barker (2021) and El King (2022). Last year’s races were won by Millie Couzens and Matt Fox.
2023 Ilkley Cycle Races – Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix – Ilkley, England – Matthew Fox of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli wins with Edward Morgan of Wales Racing Academy in second and George Kimber of Embark Spirit BSS in third. Image: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
The route
The route is a short, punchy clockwise circuit in the center of Ilkley, tougher than the one in Otley, and challenging enough to break up the race. Expect plenty of aggressive racing throughout and a different type of winner.
At just 1.5 kilometers long, riders can complete each lap in as little as two minutes. Tom Pidcock and Max Poole are the only ones to have broken the two-minute barrier on this circuit, according to Strava.
The circuit begins outside Bettys Café Tea Rooms on The Grove, quickly taking a 90° right-hand turn. Here, the main climbing starts with a 200-metre ramp up Riddings Road, featuring a maximum gradient of about 14%. Positioning into this turn will be crucial, as this climb is likely where many attacks will be launched. A long stretch of false flat follows along Albany Walk and onto Parish Gyll Drive.
The race then heads back into town with a technical downhill section, fast and challenging enough that any rider reaching this section first on the final lap will have a strong chance of winning. The road kinks right then left onto Wilton Road before turning right onto Grove Road for a fairly long, straight downhill stretch. The riders then bear right again – at high speed – onto the finishing straight along The Grove.
The Series so far…
The seven-round National Circuit Series began in Otley on Wednesday night with Frankie Hall (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) and Matt Bostock (Ribble Rebellion) emerging as Series leaders after winning their respective races. In the team standings, DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK lead Shibden Apex RT by seven points in the women’s Series, while Ribble Rebellion are at the head of the open standings, 21 points in front of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli.
Riders to watch
Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix
Last year’s victor, WorldTour rider Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck). If she starts, who bet against her doing the same again after her excellent 5th place at the nationals road race. It’s a big if though, as Couzens was a non-starter in Otley on Wednesday. Eilidh Shaw, second in the national circuit race is another potential winner that is on the startlist but unlikely to start, having withdrawn from Otley due to illness.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK dominated in Otley and we could see more of the same in Ilkley, especially without their Otley rivals Shibden Apex RT not racing. As well as Otley winner Frankie Hall, who looks in scintillating form right now, the team boast Robyn Clay, ninth in Otley and 2023 Newark Town Centre Races winner, 2023 Otley Grand Prix victor Sophie Lewis, and Lucy Lee, ninth in this race last year.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Otley Cycle Races – Santini Women’s Grand Prix – Winner Frankie Hall of DAS Hutchinson Brother UK. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd had a race to forget in Otley on Wednesday, their best-placed rider being Annabel Ramsay in 27th. If they can regain their mojo, however, they have riders capable of challenging. Amy Gornall looked strong at the national circuit race and finished 7th here last season, while former national circuit race champion Jo Tindley was sixth in 2023 and second in 2022. Lucy Harris is another potential challenger but she was a DNS in Otley so may not race.
Crit specialists Isabel Darvill (Doltini-O’Shea) and Corinne Side (Unattached) both impressed in Otley. Darvill followed her podium at the national circuit race with tenth in Otley, staking an early claim as a contender for the National Circuit Series. Likewise last year’s Series winner Side seems to have regained her form after a difficult start to 2024, crossing the line in sixth on Wednesday.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Championships – Circuit Race: Women – Darlington, County Durham, England – Megan Barker of TEKKERZ CC. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Former national circuit race champion Megan Barker (Tekkerz CC) secured a victory in Ilkley in 2021. Her seventh-place finish at the national circuit race a week ago demonstrates she remains a strong contender. Another rider with winning potential is 2023 Sheffield Grand Prix champion Monica Greenwood (Team Coop-Repsol), who narrowly missed the podium at the nationals, finishing fourth, and was 14th in Otley.
Who else? Cyclocross specialist Anna Kay (PROXIMUS – CYCLIS CT) showed she can thrive in a crit too with 11th at the national circuit race this year. First-year under-23 Ella Jamieson (Lifeplus Wahoo) finished 11th in this race in 2022 when she was just 17. Danni Watkinson (Jadan Vive Le Velo) had a breakthrough ride in Oltey and will be looking to prove that her second place was no one-off.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Otley Cycle Races – Santini Otley Women’s Grand Prix Race – Dannielle Watkinson of Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Lizzie Hermolle (Team Boompods) is our dark horse; she was 13th at the national road race and has had several National b road race podiums in 2024. A punchy rider, the hilly Ilkley course could suit her.
Lister Horsfall Open Grand Prix
After a disappointing national circuit race, Ribble Rebellion wasted no time in turning things around Otley, executing a brilliant team display culminating in victory for Matt Bostock and third place for Jim Brown. The pair will have go into the race as favourites, ably supported by Max Rushby, who was a key part of the team’s success on Wednesday.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Otley Cycle Races – E/1/2 The Rayner Foundation GP Race – Winner Matt Bostock of Ribble Rebellion. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli look set to Ribble Rebellion’s main challengers. The team won Ilkley last year through Matt Fox. Fast finishing Tim Shoreman is their undoubted leader, fourth at the national circuit race, fifth in Otley and 2023 2023 Fort Colne GP winner, and with seven riders starting they have strength in numbers, Tom Martin, Callum Laborde and Thomas Armstrong among those that Ribble Rebellion will be wary of letting go up the road.
Second place in Otley and part of the key move in the national circuit race, Rob Scott looks sharp (Tekkerz CC) and has crit specialist Alec Briggs to challenge if things come down to a sprint.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Otley Cycle Races – E/1/2 The Rayner Foundation GP Race – Rob Scott of Trinity Racing. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Ollie Rees (Sagbal-Anicolor) finished sixth in Otley and has the talent to pull off a win in Ilkley. 2024 BUCS road race champion Ed Morgan (Spectra Racing) was second in this race last year and will be hoping to reach the podium again. His teammate Toby Barnes could challenge too.
Cycling Sheffield were lively in Otley, with David Hird eventually finishing tenth. James Hartley has form, finishing in the top 20 at the national road race, and his brother Jack, champion of the North, returns after not making the start in Otley.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series – Otley Cycle Races – E/1/2 The Rayner Foundation GP Race. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Will Roberts was UCI Continental outfit Saint Piran’s best finisher in Otley with a strong seventh. Yorkshireman Dylan Westley was aggressive and he should find the punchier course in Ilkley to his liking.
Oliver Peace (Development Team DSM Firmenich PostNL) and Jacob Scott (REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland) were also among the agitators in Ilkley and will suit the course.
Timings
17.30 MAS Design under-16s race
18.00 Ilkley Cycling Club’s Pedal in the Park Juniors
18.40 93 Cycles Classic Race (Cat 2/3/4 men)
19.30 Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix
20.30 Lister Horsfall Men’s 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
We aren’t at the race this year but there will be race updates on British Cycling’s social media channels.
After Round 1 in Otley on Wednesday, the National Circuit Series makes the short trip over to Ilkley on Friday (28 June) for the 10th edition of the popular Ilkley Cycle Races.
Here’s our preview.
Featured photo: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
What is it?
Just six miles away from the scene of Round 1 of the National Circuit Series in Otley, Ilkley hosts Round 2 this Friday evening. The Ilkley Cycle Races has been running since 2014 and has quickly established itself as a popular event, with a good atmosphere and enthusiastic crowds.
As well as two elite races (the Ilkley CC Women’s Grand Prix and the Lister Horsfall Men’s Grand Prix), the event also features an under-16s race and a Cat 2/3/4 and a Masters race.
The elite men’s race has previously been won by Alex Dalton (2014), Pete Williams (2015), Scott Thwaites (2016), Tobyn Horton (2017), Tom Moses (2018 and 2019), Reece Wood (2021), and Sam Watson (2022, who won in controversial circumstances). Victors of the women’s elite race, meanwhile, have been Melissa Lowther (2014), Henrietta Colbourne (2015), Rebecca Womersley (2016), Annie Simpson (2017 and 2018), Emily Meakin (2019), Megan Barker (2021) and El King (2022). Last year’s races were won by Millie Couzens and Matt Fox.
The route
The route is a short, punchy clockwise circuit in the center of Ilkley, tougher than the one in Otley, and challenging enough to break up the race. Expect plenty of aggressive racing throughout and a different type of winner.
At just 1.5 kilometers long, riders can complete each lap in as little as two minutes. Tom Pidcock and Max Poole are the only ones to have broken the two-minute barrier on this circuit, according to Strava.
The circuit begins outside Bettys Café Tea Rooms on The Grove, quickly taking a 90° right-hand turn. Here, the main climbing starts with a 200-metre ramp up Riddings Road, featuring a maximum gradient of about 14%. Positioning into this turn will be crucial, as this climb is likely where many attacks will be launched. A long stretch of false flat follows along Albany Walk and onto Parish Gyll Drive.
The race then heads back into town with a technical downhill section, fast and challenging enough that any rider reaching this section first on the final lap will have a strong chance of winning. The road kinks right then left onto Wilton Road before turning right onto Grove Road for a fairly long, straight downhill stretch. The riders then bear right again – at high speed – onto the finishing straight along The Grove.
The Series so far…
The seven-round National Circuit Series began in Otley on Wednesday night with Frankie Hall (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) and Matt Bostock (Ribble Rebellion) emerging as Series leaders after winning their respective races. In the team standings, DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK lead Shibden Apex RT by seven points in the women’s Series, while Ribble Rebellion are at the head of the open standings, 21 points in front of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli.
Riders to watch
Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix
Last year’s victor, WorldTour rider Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck). If she starts, who bet against her doing the same again after her excellent 5th place at the nationals road race. It’s a big if though, as Couzens was a non-starter in Otley on Wednesday. Eilidh Shaw, second in the national circuit race is another potential winner that is on the startlist but unlikely to start, having withdrawn from Otley due to illness.
DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK dominated in Otley and we could see more of the same in Ilkley, especially without their Otley rivals Shibden Apex RT not racing. As well as Otley winner Frankie Hall, who looks in scintillating form right now, the team boast Robyn Clay, ninth in Otley and 2023 Newark Town Centre Races winner, 2023 Otley Grand Prix victor Sophie Lewis, and Lucy Lee, ninth in this race last year.
Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd had a race to forget in Otley on Wednesday, their best-placed rider being Annabel Ramsay in 27th. If they can regain their mojo, however, they have riders capable of challenging. Amy Gornall looked strong at the national circuit race and finished 7th here last season, while former national circuit race champion Jo Tindley was sixth in 2023 and second in 2022. Lucy Harris is another potential challenger but she was a DNS in Otley so may not race.
Crit specialists Isabel Darvill (Doltini-O’Shea) and Corinne Side (Unattached) both impressed in Otley. Darvill followed her podium at the national circuit race with tenth in Otley, staking an early claim as a contender for the National Circuit Series. Likewise last year’s Series winner Side seems to have regained her form after a difficult start to 2024, crossing the line in sixth on Wednesday.
Former national circuit race champion Megan Barker (Tekkerz CC) secured a victory in Ilkley in 2021. Her seventh-place finish at the national circuit race a week ago demonstrates she remains a strong contender. Another rider with winning potential is 2023 Sheffield Grand Prix champion Monica Greenwood (Team Coop-Repsol), who narrowly missed the podium at the nationals, finishing fourth, and was 14th in Otley.
Who else? Cyclocross specialist Anna Kay (PROXIMUS – CYCLIS CT) showed she can thrive in a crit too with 11th at the national circuit race this year. First-year under-23 Ella Jamieson (Lifeplus Wahoo) finished 11th in this race in 2022 when she was just 17. Danni Watkinson (Jadan Vive Le Velo) had a breakthrough ride in Oltey and will be looking to prove that her second place was no one-off.
Lizzie Hermolle (Team Boompods) is our dark horse; she was 13th at the national road race and has had several National b road race podiums in 2024. A punchy rider, the hilly Ilkley course could suit her.
Lister Horsfall Open Grand Prix
After a disappointing national circuit race, Ribble Rebellion wasted no time in turning things around Otley, executing a brilliant team display culminating in victory for Matt Bostock and third place for Jim Brown. The pair will have go into the race as favourites, ably supported by Max Rushby, who was a key part of the team’s success on Wednesday.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli look set to Ribble Rebellion’s main challengers. The team won Ilkley last year through Matt Fox. Fast finishing Tim Shoreman is their undoubted leader, fourth at the national circuit race, fifth in Otley and 2023 2023 Fort Colne GP winner, and with seven riders starting they have strength in numbers, Tom Martin, Callum Laborde and Thomas Armstrong among those that Ribble Rebellion will be wary of letting go up the road.
Second place in Otley and part of the key move in the national circuit race, Rob Scott looks sharp (Tekkerz CC) and has crit specialist Alec Briggs to challenge if things come down to a sprint.
Ollie Rees (Sagbal-Anicolor) finished sixth in Otley and has the talent to pull off a win in Ilkley. 2024 BUCS road race champion Ed Morgan (Spectra Racing) was second in this race last year and will be hoping to reach the podium again. His teammate Toby Barnes could challenge too.
Cycling Sheffield were lively in Otley, with David Hird eventually finishing tenth. James Hartley has form, finishing in the top 20 at the national road race, and his brother Jack, champion of the North, returns after not making the start in Otley.
Will Roberts was UCI Continental outfit Saint Piran’s best finisher in Otley with a strong seventh. Yorkshireman Dylan Westley was aggressive and he should find the punchier course in Ilkley to his liking.
Oliver Peace (Development Team DSM Firmenich PostNL) and Jacob Scott (REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland) were also among the agitators in Ilkley and will suit the course.
Timings
17.30 MAS Design under-16s race
18.00 Ilkley Cycling Club’s Pedal in the Park Juniors
18.40 93 Cycles Classic Race (Cat 2/3/4 men)
19.30 Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix
20.30 Lister Horsfall Men’s 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
We aren’t at the race this year but there will be race updates on British Cycling’s social media channels.
Provisional startlists
Ilkley Car Audio Women’s Grand Prix
Lister Horsfall Open Grand Prix
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