Tour de France bid receives big boost

Tonight’s Otley Cycle Races – which double up as the men’s and women’s elite circuit race championship – signifies the start of a big week for the White Rose county that is highlighted on Sunday with the National Road Race Championships at Ampleforth, York.

Next Tuesday’s opening round of the Elite Series in Brighouse concludes a hectic week that should stand the county in good stead as the Welcome to Yorkshire tourist board bids for the 2016 Grand Depart.

London Olympian Armitstead, who defends her national title on Sunday, said: “Tonight will be a fantastic occasion for my home town of Otley.

“And it’s important for all of the races this week that we demonstrate to the Tour organisers that we can put on a good show.”

Armitstead will be an interested spectator tonight as her brother Nick races in the Chevin Cycles Classic for men and women.

That is one of of four races and the pre-cursor to the highlight of the night, the elite circuit championship. The top riders from the biggest British teams will be contesting a race which has been won in the past by the likes of Mark Cavendish and Rotherham’s Russell Downing.

Burley-in-Wharfedale’s Scott Thwaites won last year’s race and will be the man to beat tonight when the national championship race begins at 8.30pm.

One hundred cyclists have to negotiate a 2.25km course around the town, 22 times. Proceedings begin at 6.40pm for the Under-16s and Under-14s Lads and Lasses Bike Race.

Roads through Otley are closed from 5.30pm onwards. Car parking is available in the old auction mart on Leeds Road.