2023 Otley Town Centre Races Report

The 2023 Otley Town Centre Races were the first round in the British Cycling National Circuit Series.

The 39th edition of the Otley Town Centre Races saw fast and furious racing in the men’s and women’s races. They claim to be one of the most prestigious criteriums on the BC calendar and with previous winners including Tom Pidcock, Lizzy Deignan, Mark Cavendish, Adam Blythe and Jonny Clay, they could be right!

Women’s Race

The women’s race saw an initial break move clear with Monica Greenwood (DAS-Handsling), Bexy Dew (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee), Lucy Glover (Shibden Hope Tech Apex) and Flora Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck Development Team). The bunch had to chase hard to bring the break back and when they did a counter-attack from the same four teams went clear!

This was to be the race-winning move of Sophie Lewis (DAS-Handsling), Cat Ferguson (Shibden Hope Tech Apex), Millie Couzens (Fenix‐Deceuninck), Robyn Clay (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee). The quartet managed to pull out a lead of 46 seconds all the way to the finale. Couzens put in a couple of attacks leading to the final corner, but to no avail. Lewis took the final corner wide and hit the front. She said she knew “you had to go full-pelt into that last corner” and then “it was just all out to the line!”

After the race Sophie said the win was “really special” after the disappointment of the previous weekends Nation Circuit Championship race. She also said the it fuelled her determination and gave her a” little extra edge into the last corner.“

DAS-Handsling DS Simon Howes said that after coming close in the two previous National Road Series events, the plan was to win the Otley Town Centre Races. With their squad reduced after a tough National Championships weekend the team knew that Otley Town Centre Races would be a tough race. Despite this the team raced aggressively, racing from the front. With Monica Greenwood in the initial break and then Sophie getting in the winning break, the tactic worked. Simon said that “Sophie has pedigree in sprint finishes so we all had full confidence in her being successful”.

The team had four riders in the top 15 and Howes said that it was “great to see Monica and Emma also finish in the top 10 with Lucy not far behind in 15th”. He also congratulated Sammie Stuart who “although not 100% led the team out on the final lap”

Otley Town Centre Races Women’s Results

Gallery photos courtesy of bob.macgregor.31

Men’s Race

The Property Development Men’s Otley Grand Prix was an aggressive, fast race that saw many attempted breaks early on. Ben Chilton (Ribble Collective), Sam Culverwell (Dolan Ellesse), David Hird (ROKiT-SRCT) and William Smith (TRINITY Racing) managed a lap away. Once they were caught Harry Birchill (Saint Piran) had a brief stint on his own. Then Dexter Leeming-Sykes (Wold Top The Edge Pactimo) and George Kimber (Embark Spirit BSS) went next, but again it was a short-lived attempt.

Finally Bob Donaldson (TRINITY Racing) managed to get away and held a 15 second gap with seven laps to go. While the bunch tried to chase his team-mates set about blocking any attempts. Donaldson then got some help in the form of team-mate Will Smith and Zak Machin, a junior riding for the BCC Race Team. This trio then held on as the gap to the bunch dwindled.

On the bell-lap Donaldson attacked on the back straight and while his break-away companions were swallowed up by the charging bunch, he held on to take the win by two seconds! Talking after the race Donaldson said it was a hard race and the he was “out there for a while, suffering a bit”, which has to be an understatement! Then coming into the last lap a friend shouted that he needed to go as the bunch was coming. So coming onto the last drag he went “as hard as I could, it was only a lap to go”. He thanked Will Smith for his help and said he felt bad about dropping him in the end: I’m sure he was ok with that!

Otley Town Centre Races Men’s Results

Next race in the National Circuit Series are the Illkley Cycle Races in west Yorkshire on the 30th June.