Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing) wins the classic Otley Town Centre circuit race ahead of Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Sharp) and Steven Burke (UK Youth).
2011 Otley Cycle Races Photo Album (200+ images)
Report
In front of a huge crowd, certainly a bigger one than previous years, Scott Thwaites proved to be a popular winner of the town centre race being a local Yorkshire lad from just down the road. His win in the Elite event was a fitting end to a great night of racing that began with some fast and furious Youth races where the highlight without a doubt was the win by Chris Lawless (Maxgear) in the Under 16 event.
The youngster attacked with 10 laps to go and managed to hold off the chasing bunch lap after lap and in the end, was increasing his lead as the finish line approached where he was deservedly cheered home by the big crowd which was present at the barriers from the very first event.
In the Support race, eventual winner Gary Adamson (SiS), was in everything and when the breaks he was in didn’t stick, he just made sure of the win in the big bunch kick for the line where local heroine Lizzie Armitstead was the winner of the first women’s prize. She admitted that the race had been a hard one and that during the excitement of racing in front of her family and friends as well as thousands of locals, she had gone a lot deeper than she had expected to before the race.
A great victory for Scott Thwaites of Endura Racing in front of an even greater crowd, the Otley GP was yet again a fantastic event for cycling.
It was then left to the Elite men’s riders to go into battle, flagged away by Lizzie Armitstead on this mile long hilly circuit and after a few breaks came and went, as did a new lap record to Tobyn Horton and Dean Windsor, a break got away with Matt Cronshaw (Raleigh), Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Sharp), Dean Windsor (Rapha Condor Sharp) and Jack Bauer (Endura Racing).
With the gap still bridgeable, the numbers out front swelled with Olympic Bronze medallist Steven Burke (UK Youth) getting across as did Tobyn Horton (Motorpoint) and Scott Thwaites.
The Live Photo Album – a small selection of pictures from the night
Adam Blythe (Lotto) too tried to get across but didn’t manage it which was a surprise as he looked very comfortable in the chase. Chase groups came and went and Sigma Sport Specialized were among the teams giving it everything having missed the move.
The break though wasn’t in the mood to be caught and although the gap to the peloton was coming down in the closing laps as the pace at the front started to slow as the riders prepared for the sprint, an attack by Jack Bauer saw that gap grow again in the run to the line. Bauer’s attack certainly helped his teammate Thwaites and it was left to Dean Windsor to chase Bauer down, giving Scott Thwaites an armchair ride.
Into the crucial final bend, Thwaites went into it in fourth and came out first and from then on, victory was his with his teammate Bauer celebrating well before Thwaites had got near the finish line so emphatic was the Yorkshire rider’s victory.
Dean Downing, Scott Thwaites and Steven Burke.
Post race reactions
Scott Thwaites: This was his second classic victory after his win in the Lincoln GP in May and on top of his win in the Halfords Tour Series. “This is brilliant. It’s the second biggest crit after the nationals and it is my local race as well and one of the races I had to win during my career so I am really happy to have done it so early.”
“It was good in the break and everyone was working well. The two Rapha lads were committed to it so we were riding well. Before the sprint, I thought there might be a few more attacks but with so many good sprinters in the group everyone fancied their chances in that rather than attack.”
“When the break went and there was two in it from Rapha and they were quality riders, I knew it was a bit dangerous. Adam Blythe made a big effort and I went with him and then he swung off and I shot through to take my turn. I think he’d expected some one else to take my wheel but no-one did and I was on my own and so I committed to getting across.”
Dean Downing: Bitterly disappointed, Dean offered no excuses and admitted that he had made a mistake that cost him and his team the victory. “I’m disappointed and angry, all the above. Dean Windsor gave me a perfect lead out by chasing Bauer along the top, and I just went too late.”
“Scott went down the inside of me in to the corner and he had a perfect line to the finish and I proper messed the last corner up so I’m more angry with myself because me and Deano were flying tonight. We were cruising in the break and then Dean said he’d lead me out and I thought this will be perfect and it nearly was …”
“There were a lot of attacks early on and I just smashed it on the front and we got a group away with Matt Cronshaw and everyone was driving it. We worked really hard with a few more getting across.”
“I understand the gap to the peloton went down to 25 metres at one point but then Jack Bauer attack along the top and got it going again. I have great form and trained hard for this and looked after myself in the winter but winning is everything. I worry about not winning when I am paid to win bike races and so when I get second, I get very disappointed. ”
Steve Burke: “That was one of the best criterium rides I have done for ages” said the Olympic Bronze Medallist from Beijing. “I struggled last year but funnily enough, I am still disappointed I didn’t win. I thought I had the legs to win the sprint but it is all about positioning and first out of that corner.”
“Getting across to the break was tough. I went across with a Motorpoint rider and it was a big effort and I then managed to recover and was thinking there would be an attack and there was but I also felt it would come to a sprint and that was what I was banking on.”
“The form is better now. I was really ill after the Tour DoonHame with a nasty virus but the form is coming and for me it is all about the track and always will be. Until London any way.”
Jack Bauer: “I put a lot of work into that break and I knew Scottie could come away with it if he got a good line into that final corner because he has such a quick gallop in him. So I sat on that break until he got across. We were away for quite a bit before he got across and when he came across it was perfect and I did as much work as I could and in the closing stages, I made one hit on the final lap to get away and still had the lead onto the descent.”
“Rapha had to pull me back, Scottie was on their wheels, he took a really aggressive line through the final bend, went in fourth wheel, came out first wheel. It is one of those corners you can carry full speed through and once you’re going flat out, it’s hard to over take. I am really stoked for him.”
Jack now has a holiday before during the second half of the season, he has a few goals including the Tour of Utah and the Tour of Britain. “It has been really good being back in England. Wilko and Jayne have put me in their place in Barnoldswick and the Tour Series was fun, hard work but a lot of fun.”
ELITE MENS RACE
1 Scott Thwaites Endura Racing 01:01:58
2 Dean Downing Rapha Condor Sharp 01:01:58
3 Steve Burke Team UK Youth 01:01:58
4 Dean Windsor Rapha Condor Sharp 01:01:58
5 Tobyn Horton Motorpoint Pro Cycling 01:01:58
6 Jack Bauer Endura Racing 01:02:01
7 Matt Cronshaw Team Raleigh 01:02:03
8 Adam Bylthe Omega Pharma Lotto 01:02:04
9 Daniel Mclay Omega Pharma Lotto Davo 01:02:04
10 Simon Gaywood Team Corley Cycles/Cervelo/Alph 01:02:04
11 Stephen Adams Sigma Sport – Specialized 01:02:05
12 Tom Murray Sigma Sport Specialized 01:02:05
13 Johnny McEvoy Motorpoint Pro Cycling 01:02:05
14 Steve Lampier Sigma Sport Specialized 01:02:05
15 Ryan Parnes Team Raleigh 01:02:05
16 Ian Bibby Motorpoint Pro Cycling 01:02:06
17 Ed Clancy Rapha Condor Sharp 01:02:06
18 Jack Pullar Vanillabike.com 01:02:06
19 Graham Briggs Rapha Condor Sharp 01:02:06
20 Ian Wilkinson Endura Racing 01:02:06
21 Chris Nicholson Lotto-Predictor-VC Ardennes 01:02:06
22 Dave McGowan Team UK Youth 01:02:07
23 Robert Crampton Teamwallis CHH 01:02:07
24 Alistair Rutherford Science In Sport.com 01:02:07
25 James McCallum Rapha Condor Sharp 01:02:07
26 Tony Gibb Cyclepremier.com – Metaltek 01:02:07
27 Andrew Hawden Herbalife/Wheelbase.co.uk 01:02:07
28 Joshua Hunt UVCA Troyes 01:02:07
29 Adam Yates Science In Sport.com 01:02:08
30 Daniel Smith Velo29 Cycling Team 01:02:08
31 Stuart Reid Herbalife/Wheelbase.co.uk 01:02:08
32 Adam Duggleby Science In Sport.com 01:02:08
33 Dan Storey Sheffrec 01:02:08
34 Tom Barras Cyclepremier.com – Metaltek 01:02:08
35 Jack Adams Forme Procycliste Sanlamere 01:02:08
36 Will Fox Club Member 01:02:08
37 Joel Davison Hand in Hand Baal 01:02:09
38 Duncan Moralee Sportscover Strategic 01:02:09
39 James Sampson Motorpoint Pro Cycling 01:02:10
40 Tom Last Sigma Sport – Specialized 01:02:10
41 Jake Tanner Team Sportscover Strategic Altu 01:02:11
42 Matt Kipling Team Raleigh 01:02:11
43 David Clarke Endura Racing 01:02:11
44 Alastair Kay Herbalife/Wheelbase.co.uk 01:02:11
45 Robert Partridge Endura Racing 01:02:12
46 Andy Coupe Herbalife/Wheelbase.co.uk 01:02:12
47 Christopher Latham Planet X 01:02:12
48 Benjamin Kellett V S Cycles 01:02:12
49 Matthew Holmes Team Wallis CHH RT 01:02:13
50 Jeroen Janssen Team Raleigh 01:02:13
51 Richard Handley Team Raleigh 01:02:13
52 Joshua Edmondosn Colpack 01:02:13
53 Jamie Shirlaw Herbalife/Wheelbase.co.uk 01:02:14
54 Jamie Newall Team Corley Cycles/Cervelo/Alph 01:02:14
55 Nathan Edmondson USP Issoire 01:02:14
56 Casey Munro Rapha Condor Sharp 01:02:16
57 Chris Daddy Star Bikes RT 01:02:17
58 Ben Greenwood Rapha Condor Sharp 01:02:17
59 James Sharp York Cycleworks 01:02:18
60 Robert Hayles Endura Racing 01:02:21
61 Kristian House Rapha Condor Sharp 01:02:23
CATEGORY 2/3/4
1 Gary Adamson Science In Sport.com
2 James Warren Bill Nickson Cycles RT
3 Jack Cutsforth Herbalife/Wheelbase.co.uk
4 Robert Watson RVO Racing
5 Matthew Williams Boneshakersbikes.com
6 James Thompson Boneshakersbikes.com
7 Lizzie Armistead Garmin-Cervelo Women’s Team
8 Ollie Wood Aire Valley RT
9 Lewis Craven Herbalife/Wheelbase.co.uk
10 Edward McParland GT Racing UK
11 Thomas Armstrong Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale
12 Robert Ormrod Private Member
13 Andrew Marsh Dinnington RC
14 Dieter Droger Team Cystic Fibrosis
15 Lucy Garner Motorpoint Cycling
16 Sam Ward Wills Bros Racing
17 Mark Fidler Private Member
18 Danny Kelly Clay Cross RT
19 Jack Clarkson Pedalsport Cycling Club
20 David Johnson Adept Precision RT
21 Sam Boast Cycle Sport Pendle
22 Andy Warren Cleveleys RC
23 Martin Woffindin Cycle Sport Pendle
24 Peter Barusevicus VC Bradford
25 Paul Allen Wakefield CC – Exponential
26 Sam Pedder Base2Racecycles.co.uk
27 Tom Garwell Dirtwheels Cycles
28 Nathan Wilson Wilsons Wheels Race Team
29 Jacob Ragan Teamwallis CHH Racing Team
30 Mike Curtis Aire Valley Racing Team
31 Karl Freeman Team Corley Cycles/Cervelo/Alph
32 Joe Fox Rapha Condor CC
33 Lee Allen RVO Racing
34 Alastair Hepworth Batley Cycling Club
35
36 Karl Juan Denton Yorkshire Velo
37 Johnny Ratcliffe Team JD Cycles Ilkley
38 Glen Turnbull Boneshakersbikes.com
39 Peter Georgi Giant Cycling Club – Halo Films
40
41 Simon Hayes Private Member
42 Matt Mannakee Boneshakersbikes.com
43 Matthew Bulmer Dirtwheels Cycles
44 Sam Kirby RVO Racing
45 Ewan Sewell York Cycleworks
46 Graham Atkinson Lancaster CC
47 Joseph Richards Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale
48 Nick Armitstead Dirtwheels Cycles
49 James Wagner Sportscover Strategic
50 Mick Rowson RVO Racing
51 Tom Dalton Bill Nickson Cycles RT
52 Michael Dales Velo 29
53 Ella Sadler-Andrews Horizon Fitness-Prendas Ciclism
54 Andrew Noble Moonglu RT
55 Ady Rudd Dirtwheels Cycles
56 Daniel Keena Star Bikes RT
57 Lars Koerdt Team JD Cycles Ilkley
58 Ivan Boyes Huddersfield Star Whlrs
59 Samuel Jackson Herbalife/Wheelbase.co.uk
60 Paul Lehan Harrogate Nova CC
61 Martin Dainty Team Cystic Fibrosis
62 Richard Siddle Private Member
63 Paul Keyse Private Member
64 James Hunt Sheffrec CC
65 Craig Armitage Crosstrax
66 Jessie Walker RST Racing Team – Trigon
67 Gerald Armstrong Otley CC
1st Female, Lizzie Armitstead, Garmin
Under 14/16
1 Chris Lawless Maxgear RT
2 Ollie wood Aire Valley Racing Team
3 Charlie Tanfield Velo29 Cycling Team
4 Jake Womersley Aire Valley Racing Team
5 Fabio Close Velocity Race Team
6 Leon Gledhill Planet X
7 Joe Davison Ferryhill Wheelers Mountain Hig
8 Matt Flynn Salt Ayre Cog Set
9 James King Colomba Cycle Club
10 Henry Hunter Southport CC
11 Danny Fox Solihull CC
12 Sebastian Marsh Paul Milnes/Bradford Olympic RC
13 Callum Rogers Scunthorpe Polytechnic CC
14 Joey Walker RST Racing Team – Trigon
15 Grace Garner Leicestershire Road Club
16 Luc Hall Kuota – Spinergy – GSG
17 Levi Moody Pedalsport Cycling Club
18 Leon Taylor-Woodhouse Holme Valley Whls
19 Jack Sadler Herbalife/Wheelbase.co.uk
20 Melissa Lowther Planet X
21 Gabriel Cullaigh Aire Valley Racing Team
22 Reece Wood Aire Valley Racing Team
23 John Didsbury Salt Ayre Cog Set
24 Lauren O’Brien Wakefield Junior Triathlon Club
25 Thomas Whiting Bolsover and District CC
26 Tomos Owens Mid Shropshire Whls
27 Joshua Cutler Kirklees Cycling Academy
28 Robert Armstrong Bill Nickson Cycles RT
29 Struan McInnes North Midlands Youth Squad
30 Abby-Mae Parkinson Aire Valley Racing Team
31 Kyle Petrie Stirling Bike Club
32 Billy Harding Paul Milnes/Bradford Olympic RC
33 David Pullan Leeds Mercury Cycling Club
34 Joe Williams Holme Valley Whls
35 Seth Waterman Private Member
36 Harry White Dinnington RC
37 Jake Beach Aire Valley Racing Team
38 Jonathan Wong Private Member
39 Robert Harper Newport Youth Velo Cycling Club
40 Jack Fillingham East Bradford CC
41 Lewis Byram Holme Valley Whls
42 Etienne Georgi Giant Cycling Club – Halo Films
Under 12
1 Thomas Humphrey Wakefield Junior Triathlon Club
2 Brad Dransfield North Midlands Youth Squad
3 Jacob Feetham Private Member
4 Thomas Pidcock Aire Valley Racing Team
5 Will Tench Ilkley Cycling Club
6 Jamie Ridehalgh Aire Valley Racing Team
7 Mason Hollyman Kirklees Cycling Academy
8 Toby Tanfield Cleveland Wheelers CC
9 Harry Hardcastle Kirklees Cycling Academy
10 Stephen Jones Pontefract CC
11 Morgan Wilson Kirklees Cycling Academy
12 Ryan Middlemiss Otley CC
13 Tyla Loftus Private Member
14 Hannah Banks East Bradford CC
15 Jack Ford Holme Valley Whls
16 Georgina Mouser Wakefield Junior Triathlon Club
17 Thomas Cullen Otley CC
18 Lucy Byram Holme Valley Whls
19 Erica Byram Holme Valley Whls
20 Euan Cameron East Bradford CC
21 Thomas Wilson East Bradford CC
22 Connor Fox Solihull CC
23 Tiras Waterman Kirklees Cycling Academy
