Top Otley racers crash as annual cycling event draws crowds of 10,000 to town

Crowds approaching 10,000 enjoyed six very different bike races in Otley last week.

Heroic breakaways, sprint finishes, balance bikers and a few high-speed spills meant you couldn't take your eyes off the action for a minute during four hours of thrilling competition.

As ever, residents welcomed fans from across the country for the annual event, and the relaxed and friendly atmosphere was helped by plentiful supplies of fish and chips, beer and even sunshine!

Delighted Otley Cycle Races organiser Sonja Harper was quick to point out that the races only happen because the town comes together on the night.

She beamed: "What is most amazing to me is that this is an event brought together by normal people, all unpaid volunteers.

“There is my core team of 14 who prepare all year round, the commissaires, the marshals, the judges, the signing on crew, the flower arrangers.

“In addition to that, there are the keen, loyal sponsors who help finance the event and we get logistical support from British Cycling.

“What an inspiring thing the cycling community is.”

Otley Cycle Club's own race team, the famous 'Blue Train', had mixed fortunes on the night with several riders caught up in the evening's crashes.

Emily Middlebrooke crashed out of the Women's Grand Prix on the opening lap, though thankfully her cuts and bruises did not rule her out of the weekend's national championships.

Tom Cullen had a similar fate on lap three of the open Grand Prix, putting paid to his dreams of a top-10 finish on the night.

Earlier, Alex Hodgkins (22nd), Will Jowett (54th) and James Marston(56th) all rode well to finish the Chevin Cycles Classic race.

They managed to avoid the pileup on the infamous final corner that took out teammates James Luxton and Tom Sparkes.

The evening's two feature races treated the crowds to contrasting styles of racing.

After some early skirmishes in the Santini Women's Grand Prix Frankie Hall (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) and Danni Watkinson (Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon) got a 15-second gap over the field with 35 minutes still to race.

Despite the group chasing hard behind them the pair were never caught, with Hall too strong for Wilkinson in the final sprint.

Frankie Hall (right) pips Danni Wilkinson to victory at the Santini Otley Women's Grand Prix Race (Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

The Rayner Foundation Open Otley Grand Prix was a race dominated by the big UK-based teams with Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli, St Piran and TekkerzCC all prominent at various points.

In the end, the colourful Ribble Rebellion squad overpowered the rest; their pairing of Matt Bostock and Jim Brown taking first and third with Rob Scott of TekkerzCC coming second.

Despite the top teams and big names on show, arguably the biggest hit of the night was the series of balance bike races for very young riders.

These were organised by local business InGear Kids Clubs, with Elliot, Anya and Toby taking the medals on the night.