Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson) took a bunch sprint win in the women's Otley Grand Prix, while Tim Shoreman (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) took the open race victory after Will Tidball was relegated for an irregular sprint
Robyn Clay’s late surge to the line saw her sprint to Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix victory for DAS-Hutchinson ahead of Maddie Leech (Handsling Alba Development Road Team) as a large bunch battled for the win in front of big crowds in the Yorkshire market town.
In the Rayner Foundation Open Otley Grand Prix, Tim Shoreman (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) took the victory in controversial circumstances, outsprinting Matt Bostock (Tekkerz CC) and Finn Crockett (Volkerwessels) in a frantic finish which saw Will Tidball relegated for an irregular sprint.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Report
Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix
Rain began to spit as riders made their way to the grid, the skies clearing on a blustery evening by the time the race got underway, blue skies greeting the race start with the pace high from the off.
Morven Yeoman set a strong tempo up the long climb which characterises the opening half of the circuit, the Scotmaking DAS-Hutchinson’s intentions clear from the outset with the bunch strung out almost immediately.
Kate Richardson (Handsling Alba Development Road Team). Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
With multiple crashes in the peloton splits began to appear – disaster striking for Kate Richardson (Handsling Alba Development Road Team), a rear wheel puncture for the newly crowned National Champion putting her a minute behind.
Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) was the first rider to attack with any bite, although it wouldn’t be until the fourth lap until a move got away, last year’s winner Frankie Hall (Praties Cycling Team) found herself in a move with Lucy Lee (DAS-Hutchinson), cyclocross star Alderney Baker (Team Empella) and rising star Grace Lister (Hess Cycling Team).
The dangerous quartet gained yet more firepower a lap later as Madeline Cooper (Montezuma’s Eventrex RT) bridged across, continuing to show the form which has landed her multiple National B wins this season.
However, their lead was short lived as Handsling Alba Development Road Team set a stern pace on the front of the peloton, a crash involving Beth Morrow not stopping the bunch from completing the catch.
Frankie Hall (Praties Cycling Team), Women. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
With riders continuing to drop off the back of the bunch, Hall remained a force off the front of it, the defending champion looking to breakaway again, as Lister, Jess Roberts (Spectra Racing), off the back of a strong weekend in Aberystwyth, Monica Greenwood (Team Coop Repsol) and Tammy Miller (DAS-Hutchinson) all tried to snap the elastic.
With no one getting away and the laps counting down Clay herself came to the front to set the pace through the crucial last corner and finish line, a dress rehearsal for the sprint that would ensue in a few minutes time.
First though her teammate Lee would briefly lead a small group off the front, pushing on her advantage to lead the race through the bell, Isabel Mayes (CJ O’Shea Racing) in pursuit as the bunch beckoned behind.
Coming into the final corner at high speed the bunch emerged, 150m of flat, open road for the sprinters to make their move before the finish line.
As the pace ramped up it was track rider Leech who made the running with a powerful kick, Clay coming round her in the final moments to take victory on a race her father, Jonny, had once dominated.
After another delayed start while the timing system was replaced, riders were quickly into the action, keeping warm as the temperature started to drop with a typically brutal pace.
Daniel Thompson (Harrogate Nova RT) belied his years in the opening laps, the junior rider the first to open up a gap, although he was soon swallowed back into the peloton such was the ferocity of affairs at the front.
The Rayner Foundation Open Otley Grand Prix. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Constant attacks rained down as the strongest riders amassed at the front of the race, Ben Tuchner (Tekkerz CC) the most high profile casualty of a split in the bunch, the U23 rider taking it upon himself to rectify the situation.
At the head of the race it was local rider George Radcliffe (X-Speed United) who was next to get a gap, the UCI Continental rider cheered on by big crowds as he looked to capitalise on the form that saw him podium in the Tour of the Reservoir just over a week ago.
Tekkerz were attempting to take control of the chase behind as the peloton strung out into one long line, Belgian rider Jente Michels (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team) getting stuck in near the front of the bunch as he experienced the hectic nature of the National Circuit Series for the first time. The Wheelbase CabTech Castelli riders Tim Shoreman and Max Bufton also made their presence felt as the riders jostled for every position.
Tom Martin (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli). Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
With Tekkerz just about asserting their authority and Ollie Wood (Tekkerz CC) driving the peloton, it was Tom Martin who lit the blue touch paper with a typically stinging attack, the Cumbrian Wheelbase rider joined briefly by Zak Machin (BCC RT) who couldn’t live with the pace set by Martin for long.
Martin’s move put Tekkerz on the backfoot as the lime green jerseys of Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli began to circle near the front of the bunch, Finn Crockett (Volkerwessels) also helping to set the pace on his return to Britain, the Scot showing his prowess when winning the Sheffield GP two years ago.
With the status quo restored and six laps to go it was anyone’s race to win, the favourites trading continuous blows for the first 40 minutes on the famous circuit; Ollie Wood, the former National Circuit Race Champion, again putting Tekkerz CC in pole position as he broke away.
Matt Bostock remonstrates with Will Tidball in the closing metres and Tim Shoreman surges forward at the finish. Image:
However, the next lap would spell disaster for Wood as he came down in a crash just past the finish line, the disruption allowing Adam Howell (Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck) to demonstrate his excellent form as he moved off the front with the tenacious Tom Martin.
However, their gap was never sustainable and the race looked set up for a frantic sprint finish as the Wheelbase CabTech Castelli and Tekkerz squads amassed at the front.
Rounding the final corner, it was elbows out. Will Tidball swept wide through the bend, then veered across the road. Reigning champion Matt Bostock (Tekkerz CC) flung out his arms in protest, clearly feeling he’d been impeded, while Tim Shoreman (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) launched his sprint on the opposite side of the road.
Tidball was first across the line, with Shoreman second and Bostock third. But the drama didn’t end there. Heated words were exchanged between Tidball and Bostock before the commissaires intervened, relegating Tidball for an irregular sprint.
Will Tidball and Matt Bostock at the finish. Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
The revised result handed the win to Shoreman, with Bostock promoted to second and George Crockett into third. Bostock’s consolation? He moves into the lead of the Rapha Super-League ahead of Round 8 in Ilkley on Friday.
Robyn Clay’s late surge to the line saw her sprint to Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix victory for DAS-Hutchinson ahead of Maddie Leech (Handsling Alba Development Road Team) as a large bunch battled for the win in front of big crowds in the Yorkshire market town.
In the Rayner Foundation Open Otley Grand Prix, Tim Shoreman (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) took the victory in controversial circumstances, outsprinting Matt Bostock (Tekkerz CC) and Finn Crockett (Volkerwessels) in a frantic finish which saw Will Tidball relegated for an irregular sprint.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Report
Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix
Rain began to spit as riders made their way to the grid, the skies clearing on a blustery evening by the time the race got underway, blue skies greeting the race start with the pace high from the off.
Morven Yeoman set a strong tempo up the long climb which characterises the opening half of the circuit, the Scotmaking DAS-Hutchinson’s intentions clear from the outset with the bunch strung out almost immediately.
With multiple crashes in the peloton splits began to appear – disaster striking for Kate Richardson (Handsling Alba Development Road Team), a rear wheel puncture for the newly crowned National Champion putting her a minute behind.
Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) was the first rider to attack with any bite, although it wouldn’t be until the fourth lap until a move got away, last year’s winner Frankie Hall (Praties Cycling Team) found herself in a move with Lucy Lee (DAS-Hutchinson), cyclocross star Alderney Baker (Team Empella) and rising star Grace Lister (Hess Cycling Team).
The dangerous quartet gained yet more firepower a lap later as Madeline Cooper (Montezuma’s Eventrex RT) bridged across, continuing to show the form which has landed her multiple National B wins this season.
However, their lead was short lived as Handsling Alba Development Road Team set a stern pace on the front of the peloton, a crash involving Beth Morrow not stopping the bunch from completing the catch.
With riders continuing to drop off the back of the bunch, Hall remained a force off the front of it, the defending champion looking to breakaway again, as Lister, Jess Roberts (Spectra Racing), off the back of a strong weekend in Aberystwyth, Monica Greenwood (Team Coop Repsol) and Tammy Miller (DAS-Hutchinson) all tried to snap the elastic.
With no one getting away and the laps counting down Clay herself came to the front to set the pace through the crucial last corner and finish line, a dress rehearsal for the sprint that would ensue in a few minutes time.
First though her teammate Lee would briefly lead a small group off the front, pushing on her advantage to lead the race through the bell, Isabel Mayes (CJ O’Shea Racing) in pursuit as the bunch beckoned behind.
Coming into the final corner at high speed the bunch emerged, 150m of flat, open road for the sprinters to make their move before the finish line.
As the pace ramped up it was track rider Leech who made the running with a powerful kick, Clay coming round her in the final moments to take victory on a race her father, Jonny, had once dominated.
It continues a sparkling run of form for 21-year-old Clay who takes the lead in the Rapha Super-League, as well as the National Circuit Series into the next round in Ilkley on Friday.
The Rayner Foundation Open Otley Grand Prix
After another delayed start while the timing system was replaced, riders were quickly into the action, keeping warm as the temperature started to drop with a typically brutal pace.
Daniel Thompson (Harrogate Nova RT) belied his years in the opening laps, the junior rider the first to open up a gap, although he was soon swallowed back into the peloton such was the ferocity of affairs at the front.
Constant attacks rained down as the strongest riders amassed at the front of the race, Ben Tuchner (Tekkerz CC) the most high profile casualty of a split in the bunch, the U23 rider taking it upon himself to rectify the situation.
At the head of the race it was local rider George Radcliffe (X-Speed United) who was next to get a gap, the UCI Continental rider cheered on by big crowds as he looked to capitalise on the form that saw him podium in the Tour of the Reservoir just over a week ago.
Tekkerz were attempting to take control of the chase behind as the peloton strung out into one long line, Belgian rider Jente Michels (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team) getting stuck in near the front of the bunch as he experienced the hectic nature of the National Circuit Series for the first time. The Wheelbase CabTech Castelli riders Tim Shoreman and Max Bufton also made their presence felt as the riders jostled for every position.
With Tekkerz just about asserting their authority and Ollie Wood (Tekkerz CC) driving the peloton, it was Tom Martin who lit the blue touch paper with a typically stinging attack, the Cumbrian Wheelbase rider joined briefly by Zak Machin (BCC RT) who couldn’t live with the pace set by Martin for long.
Martin’s move put Tekkerz on the backfoot as the lime green jerseys of Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli began to circle near the front of the bunch, Finn Crockett (Volkerwessels) also helping to set the pace on his return to Britain, the Scot showing his prowess when winning the Sheffield GP two years ago.
With the status quo restored and six laps to go it was anyone’s race to win, the favourites trading continuous blows for the first 40 minutes on the famous circuit; Ollie Wood, the former National Circuit Race Champion, again putting Tekkerz CC in pole position as he broke away.
However, the next lap would spell disaster for Wood as he came down in a crash just past the finish line, the disruption allowing Adam Howell (Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck) to demonstrate his excellent form as he moved off the front with the tenacious Tom Martin.
However, their gap was never sustainable and the race looked set up for a frantic sprint finish as the Wheelbase CabTech Castelli and Tekkerz squads amassed at the front.
Rounding the final corner, it was elbows out. Will Tidball swept wide through the bend, then veered across the road. Reigning champion Matt Bostock (Tekkerz CC) flung out his arms in protest, clearly feeling he’d been impeded, while Tim Shoreman (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) launched his sprint on the opposite side of the road.
Tidball was first across the line, with Shoreman second and Bostock third. But the drama didn’t end there. Heated words were exchanged between Tidball and Bostock before the commissaires intervened, relegating Tidball for an irregular sprint.
The revised result handed the win to Shoreman, with Bostock promoted to second and George Crockett into third. Bostock’s consolation? He moves into the lead of the Rapha Super-League ahead of Round 8 in Ilkley on Friday.
Results
Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix
The Rayner Foundation Open Otley Grand Prix
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