Thwaites and Yorkshire riders denied as McLay earns Otley win

The 30th annual Otley Grand Prix provided a thrilling opening race in the British Cycling Elite Circuit Series, and it was Leicester’s Dan McLay who took the win in a sprint finish on Wednesday night.
The mens classic race at Otley Town Cycle Races in the centre of the town. (Picture by Tony Johnson)The mens classic race at Otley Town Cycle Races in the centre of the town. (Picture by Tony Johnson)
The mens classic race at Otley Town Cycle Races in the centre of the town. (Picture by Tony Johnson)

Aged 23 and riding for the European UCI team Bretagne Seche Environnement, McLay was making a rare appearance in the UK but had the power to hold off Bolton’s Chris Latham (100 Per Cent ME) while Newport’s Jon Mould took third for One Pro Cycling.

After a fast start and an early break, the race settled down. But a large break of around 20 riders – including Leeds rider Tom Barras (NFTO), Doncaster’s Graham Briggs (JLT Condor) as well as Scott Thwaites (Bora Argon 18) from Burley in Wharfedale, a former winner of the Otley Grand Prix – broke clear.

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The 100 Per Cent ME team stuck to the front in the closing stages, but Latham had to settle for second after McLay pipped him on the line.

The youths start their race at Otley Town Cycle Races in the centre of the town. (Picture: Tony Johnson)The youths start their race at Otley Town Cycle Races in the centre of the town. (Picture: Tony Johnson)
The youths start their race at Otley Town Cycle Races in the centre of the town. (Picture: Tony Johnson)

Earlier in the evening, Leeds teenager Thomas Pidcock had won the support race for senior riders, the talented 15-year-old Speedflex RT rider adding to his recent victorious in the Pontefract Grand Prix and Doncaster Town Centre Races.

And the Pinsent Masons Women’s Otley Grand Prix was won by Hereford teenager Annasley Park (Giordana Triton) who held off Dame Sarah Storey in a two-up sprint finish after the pair had broken away early in the 11-lap race.