Chris Lawless and EJ Harris the big winners on a wet, cold and windy night in Otley for the crits there
![]() |
Result: Otley Town Centre Crits
Thank you to Mark Young of Myeventtiming and chief judge Carole Leigh
Men’s Race
Chris Lawless won the Otley Grand Prix honours for the second successive year to add to his second place in the British Road Race Championship on Sunday.
After being in the break all race, which was brought back on the final lap, Lawless held on to beat Matt Gibson and Sebastian Mora (Raleigh GAC) who was on the podium last year as well and like Lawless, had been in the break all race.
As ever, there were attacks from the start, and young rider Fraser Martin of Raleigh GAC chanced his arm, taking out the frustration of a crash in the road race on Sunday in his race at Otley.
The race though was dominated by a break with Lawless, Mora, Tom Stewart, George Pym, Tom Moses, Rob Scott, Rory Townsend and Tobyn Horton. They managed to open up a gap approaching a minute, and when the gap closed, Lawless, Mora, and Pym weren’t afraid to go off the front of the break to inject some speed.
With Madison Genesis dominating the chase for the break, the breakaway was caught with just one lap to go, now putting the race into anyone’s hands as more than 100 battled for the right to be the 2017 Otley Grand Prix winner. But Lawless strung the field out so much, that whilst the junction was made, only those at the head of the peloton got a look in and in the sprint, that was Matt Gibson who challenged Lawless and Mora in the sprint to the line.
Reactions
Video – Chris Lawless
Matt Gibson 2nd
“It was an interesting one today. I didn’t know what to expect at first and how I was going to feel after the race at the weekend but I surprised myself and felt okay through the race. The break went early on and I wanted to get across to it but didn’t do that as I didn’t want to bring it back either with Tom Moses in there”.
“I sat back and then I knew I had to get the front if it did come back, then coming in to last lap, I ended up on the front pretty much on my own so I had to take it up and see what I could do. As the peloton was about to catch the break, Connor Swift (Madison Genesis) I think it was that went and I followed him and we ended up catching what was left of the break and then coming into that last corner, Lawless was on the front and me in the third.”
Lawless went into the last corner really quick and I tried to follow him but maybe I was a bit soft and he had too much gap into the final straight.”
Asked was the last lap a little on the hairy side, he replied “the last lap (100 up sprint) was so strung out that it wasn’t that bad. Yes, it was quick as we were going fast round the corners in the wet but the bunch itself wasn’t too bad because of the pace. The worst of it in the bunch was before those last few laps.”
“I am really happy with my form. As much as I had good form at the start of the season in Australia, I have still be struggling a bit to find some good form but things seem to be coming together now”.
Sebastian Mora (Raleigh GAC)
“I am happy with my ride tonight. I pay big attention in the first part of the race and get in a break where sometimes I attack, but on the last lap I see the peloton catching us and then follow Lawless but the same problem as last year, Lawless went through in first position and I have no more power to pass him in the sprint.”
“Okay, it was third position, but for me that is good and I like this race. The team paid big attention too in the first part and attack and this was good for a team like ours”.
Despite the rain and cold (riders were shivering both before the start and after the race), the speed of the race was very very high and Sebastian say “the mechanic put good pressure in my Schwalbe tubulars and it was not slippery. It was nervous on the first lap with so many riders in this race but in the break it was fine.”
“I am happy with my racing tonight and I feel good. Yes it was very hot in Spain yesterday but job is to adapt to all situations and I do that.”
WOMEN
Ejay Harris took her first win of the National Women’s Road Series season as she out-sprinted a group of five in the Otley Grand Prix. Annasley Park, of Drops Cycling came in second behind Harris as they kept up their strong showing in the series, with Mel Lowther grabbing the other podium spot for Team Breeze.
On a soaking wet night in Yorkshire, a delayed youth race saw round six of the National Women’s Road Series reduced from 15 laps to just 12 of the 1.3km circuit around Otley. It was the series leaders Drops Cycling who made the riding early on as they set a fearsome pace on the front before one of their riders, Park, jumped clear of the group and was joined by Anna Henderson of Cycle Team OnForm.
The race behind quickly fragmented and with Storey Racing’s series leader Chanel Mason forced into a change on bike on lap six, the field struggled to form a coherent chase. Three more riders bridged the gap to the leading pair, with Harris, Rebecca Durrell and Lowther making it a strong group of five.
As the laps went by it soon became clear the peloton were not going to hunt down their prey, and the cat and mouse games began at the front with just under two laps remaining. Durrell attacked as the group crossed the line to start the final lap, but she could not make the move stick and Harris countered, leading into the final corner before unleashing a sprint to hold off her four rivals and get the win for Storey Racing.
EJ Harris: I am really happy with that result.” Talking us through the last lap, EJ explained “A break went quite early and had some strong girls in it so it was a good break to be in. So I invested early and got in the break and then we worked really well. The pace was on up the hill and I struggled at that point but I kept with it. Becks put an attack in on the last climb and we pulled that back and I did my best to go early. I was first round the corner, head down and it was a good day for the team. I had done this race a few years ago and knew that position on that final corner was key to power out of there for the sprint and so I knew I wanted to be first wheel round it”
Other Races
Fergus Robinson wins the support race from Benjamin Baugh
… continued after advert
MEN
1 Christopher Lawless Axeon Hagens Berman CT
2 Matthew Gibson JLT Condor
3 Sebastian Mora Vedri Raleigh GAC
4 Graham Briggs JLT Condor
5 Robert Scott Team Wiggins
6 Connor Swift Madison Genesis
7 Ethan Hayter 100% ME
8 Thomas Pidcock PH-MAS/Paul Milnes/Oldfield ERT
9 Brenton Jones JLT Condor
10 Rory Townsend BIKE Channel Canyon
11 Christopher Latham Team Wiggins
12 Tom Mazzone Metaltek Kuota Racing Team
13 Thomas Stewart One Pro Cycling
14 George Pym Metaltek Kuota Racing Team
15 Matthew Shaw Wheelbase Cabtech Junior RT
16 Matt Cronshaw Madison Genesis
17 Tobyn Horton Madison Genesis
18 Russ Downing JLT Condor
19 Samuel Williams One Pro Cycling
20 Charlie Renshaw Cycling Sheffield Giant Sheffield
21 Jake Hales Spirit Tifosi Racing Team
22 Conn McDunphy Raleigh GAC
23 Grant Martin Raleigh GAC
24 Angus Claxton 100% ME
25 Oliver Peckover 365 4 Bikes Academy
26 Bertie Newey Metaltek Kuota Racing Team
27 Joe Holt 100% ME
28 Alexander Braybrooke AVC Aix-En-Provence
29 Leon Mazzone ILLI-Bikes Cycling Team
30 Michael Thompson Team Wiggins
31 Isaac Mundy PMR@Toachim House
32 Harry Hardcastle Wheelbase Cabtech Junior RT
33 Jordan Reed Bike Box Alan
34 Dan Whelan Onimpex Bio Racer RT
35 Fraser Martin Raleigh GAC
36 Reece Wood 100% ME
37 Adam Kenway Raleigh GAC
38 Christopher Dredge Spirit Tifosi Racing Team
39 Stanley Kennett Spirit Tifosi Racing Team
40 Thomas Moses JLT Condor
41 Alex Orrell-Turner Wheelbase Altura MGD
42 David Ogg GodfreyBikewear-VisionExpress RT
43 Matthew Walls 100% ME
44 Chris Sherriffs All Terrain Cycles Ride In Peace
45 Matthew Nowell BIKE Channel Canyon
46 Liam Bromiley Cycling Sheffield Giant Sheffield
47 Tim James 365 4 Bikes Academy
48 Sam Lowe BIKE Channel Canyon
49 William Roberts County Cycles Racing Team
50 Josh Housley GodfreyBikewear-VisionExpress RT
51 Adam Pinder Adept Precision RT/NE Healthcare
52 Jordan Doig Wheelbase Altura MGD
53 Joey Walker Team Wiggins
54 Matthew Bostock 100% ME
55 Harry Tanfield BIKE Channel Canyon
56 Jonathan McEvoy Madison Genesis
57 Adam Hartley 100% ME
58 George Atkins BIKE Channel Canyon
59 Kieran Brady Richardsons-Trek RT
60 Joseph Clark Cycling Sheffield Giant Sheffield
61 David Lines Wheelbase Altura MGD
62 Gruffudd Lewis Madison Genesis
63 William Brown Brother NRG Driverplan
64 William Corbett Brother NRG Driverplan
65 Taylor Gunman Madison Genesis
66 Joe Evans Madison Genesis
67 Aaron Preston Brother NRG Driverplan
68 Hamish Graham Green Jersey RT
69 Richard Handley Madison Genesis
70 Pierre Vernie GodfreyBikewear-VisionExpress RT
WOMEN
1 Elizabeth-Jane Harris Storey Racing
2 Annasley Park Drops
3 Melissa Lowther Team Breeze
4 Rebecca Durrell Drops
5 Anna Henderson Cycle Team OnForm
6 Charlotte Broughton Team Ford Ecoboost
7 Elizabeth Banks Storey Racing
8 Charlotte Redden Cycle Team OnForm
9 Megan Barker Team Breeze
10 Charmaine Porter Team Ford Ecoboost
11 Rose Osborne Drops
12 Elizabeth Bennett Liv Cycling Club – Epic Coaching
13 Madeleine Gammons Team Vision Innovative Leisure
14 Rhona Callander Team Jadan-Weldtite
15 Sian Botteley Cycle Team OnForm
16 Jessica Woodworth Cycle Team OnForm
17 Amira Mellor Matrix Pro Cycling
18 Gabriella Shaw Team WNT
19 Alice Sharpe NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli
20 Monica Dew Storey Racing
21 Jennifer Powell Team Ford Ecoboost
22 Lily Greenhalgh Team 22
23 April Tacey Team 22
24 Jennifer George Storey Racing
25 Anna Kay EDCO Continental
26 Annabel Simpson Drops
27 Keira McVitty Team WNT
28 Ellen McDermott EDCO Continental
29 Amy Hill Cycle Team OnForm
30 Flora Gillies Team 22
31 Fiona Turnbull Speedflex Race Team
32 Bethany Taylor Team Vertex-Biemme RT
33 Louise Scupham Team Jadan-Weldtite
34 Sophie Holmes Team Terminator
35 Rosa Martin Team 22
36 Charlotte Dalton Team Jadan-Weldtite
37 Georgia Ashworth Team 22
38 Gemma Sargent Cycle Team OnForm
39 Corinne Side The Racing Chance Foundation
40 Elizabeth Catlow Team 22
41 Ffion James Abergavenny Road Club
42 Alexandra Rimmer Mountain Goat Coaching
43 Madeleine Scott NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli
44 Sophie Enever Team 22
45 Chanel Mason Storey Racing
46 Rosie Walsh SunSport Velo
47 Savannah Morgan Team 22
48 Amy Gornall Secret-Training.cc
49 Rhiannon Gornall NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli
50 Jo Tindley Team Ford Ecoboost
51 Sophie Thackray NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli
52 Hannah Righini-Brand EDCO Continental
53 Isabel Darvill Team Vision Innovative Leisure
54 Alexandra Sheehan Bianchi Dama UK
55 Sophie Fennell Team Ford Ecoboost
56 Hannah Bayes LIV AWOL
57 Elizabeth Burrows SunSport Velo
58 Alana Prior EDCO Continental
59 Connie Hayes LIV AWOL
60 Ellie Park Team 22
SUPPORT RACE
1 Fergus Robinson Clay Cross Road Team
2 Benjamin Baugh Wold Top Actif RT
3 Matthew Taylor Shibden Cycling Club
4 William Orrell-Turner WHEELBASE CABTECH JUNIOR RT
5 Jamie Ridehalgh HMT with JLT Condor
6 Cavan Walker Prologue Racing Team
7 Billy Harding PH-MAS/Paul Milnes/Oldfield ERT
8 Thomas Wood Prologue Racing Team
9 Euan Cameron WHEELBASE CABTECH JUNIOR RT
10 Jack Barton Speedflex Race Team
11 Ashley Marshall Prologue Racing Team
12 Cameron Blake Ilkley Cycling Club
13 Martin Woffindin Secret-Training.cc
14 Robert Watson Paceline Cycles North
15 Ralf Hodgson MTS-Rapid Engineering NE
16 Matthew Grimshaw Albarosa Cycling Club
17 James Coates Otley CC
18 William Ambrose University of Derby Cycling Club
19 Ben Greenwood Macclesfield Wheelers
20 Joshua Greenwood Pedalsport Cycling Club
21 Frank Pilkington Bill Nickson Cycles RT
22 Dylan Flesher Prologue Racing Team
23 Tyla Loftus Wheelbase Altura MGD
24 Matthew Kirkbright Langdale Lightweights Racing Team
25 Jimmy Parvin Prologue Racing Team
26 Lee Brown Holmfirth Cycling Club
27 Adam Jarps Manilla Cycling
28 Ian Cullen Otley CC
29 James Claydon Bill Nickson Cycles RT
30 Huw Owen Energy Cycles Junior Road Team
31 William Staveley InGear Coaching naughtone
32 Robbie Pollard Otley CC
33 Tobias Bartlett Clay Cross Road Team
34 Jim Adamson Ilkley Cycling Club
35 Toby Tanfield Brother NRG Driverplan
36 Simon Mayfield Sowerby Brothers CRT
37 Edward Evans Jackpot Racing
38 Alfie Moses Wheelbase Altura MGD
39 Jack Ford WHEELBASE CABTECH JUNIOR RT
40 Robert Pape VC York
41 Joe Howcroft PH-MAS/Paul Milnes/Oldfield ERT
42 Phil Shackleton InGear Coaching naughtone
43 George Fox Paul Milnes – Bradford Olympic RC
44 Steve Colloby All Terrain Cycles Ride In Peace
45 Lewis Hartley Zappi Racing Team
46 James Chapman Kenilworth Wheelers CC
47 Luke Hind The MI Racing Academy
48 Matthew Bulmer All Terrain Cycles Ride In Peace
49 Glen Hale Holmfirth Cycling Club
50 Hayden Allen Albarosa Cycling Club
51 Julian Varley Team KTM
52 Nicholas Armitstead Chevin Cycles.com Trek
53 Toby Kitching Otley CC
54 Andrew Ashton Albarosa Cycling Club
55 Ian Cliffe Ilkley Cycling Club
56 Luke OConnell Otley CC
57 Joseph Romain Pedalsport Cycling Club
58 Cory Edmondson Nutcracker Altura Racing
59 David Parrington Hoppers Rollers
60 Charles Warren Harrogate Nova
61 Thomas Whale Albarosa Cycling Club
62 Mike Firth Ilkley Cycling Club
63 Ivan Boyes Huddersfield Star Wheelers
64 Harry Midgley Holmfirth Cycling Club
YOUTH
1 Samuel Watson Chevin Cycles.com Trek YAB
2 Joseph Pidcock Chevin Cycles.com Trek YAB
3 Alfred George Discovery Junior Cycling Club YAB
4 Dylan Westley Pedalsport Cycling Club YAB
5 Joshua Greenwood Pedalsport Cycling Club YAB
6 Ruari Waterworth Otley CC YAB
7 Robert Donaldson Mossley CRT YAB
8 Max Rushby Pedalsport Cycling Club YAB
9 Charles Paige Green Jersey RT YAB
10 Joseph Law Green Jersey RT YAB
11 Junior Jackson Mossley CRT YAB
12 Max Poole Bike Box Alan YAB
13 Jonny Gill Ilkley Cycling Club YAB
14 Billy Lazenby Pedalsport Cycling Club YAB
15 Bobby Horton Green Jersey RT YAB
16 George Ball Furness Future Flyers YAB
17 James Wordsworth Otley CC YAB
18 Jenson Young Pedalsport Cycling Club YAB
GIRLS
1 Ava Oxley-Szilagyi PH-MAS/Paul Milnes/Oldfield ERT
2 Amy Monkhouse Team Jadan-Weldtite
3 Lucy Naylor PH-MAS/Paul Milnes/Oldfield ERT
4 Olivia Bent Team Jadan-Weldtite
5 Ella Lazenby Pedalsport Cycling Club
6 Olivia Ingham Pedalsport Cycling Club
7 Sarah Briggs Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.Com
8 Evie Barrow Salt Ayre Cog Set
9 Maisy Vasic Team Jadan-Weldtite
10 Tilly Percy Salt Ayre Cog Set
11 Megan Cullen Otley CC
12 Flora Knight Kendal Cycle Club
13 Ruby Boyes Huddersfield Star Wheelers
14 Sasha Kitching Otley CC
15 Jasmine Pusey Cycle Sport Pendle
16 Rebecca Jones Knottingley Velo
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: Kent CA 10m Time Trial
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU 25m TT
- HC Result: Elevate RT Hill Climb
- Result: Welsh Road Race Championships 2024
- Result: Will Houghton Circuit Race (Hillingdon)
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- TT Result: Barnesbury CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Rutland CC 10m Time Trial
- TT Result: VC Glasgow South 22m TT
- BMCR Result: E/F/G/H/W Stallard Finale (Darley Moor)
- Crit Result: Melton Olympic CC Summer Crit 4
- Youth Result: The ‘Back to School’ Youth Races
- HC Result: Dursley Road Club Hill Climb
- TT Report: VTTA 100 Mile Championship
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- RR Result: Nick Clayton Memorial RR
- RR Result: Jef Schils Memorial Road Race (Nat B)
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- Crit Result: YBC & No Nonsense Circuit races
- RTTC 10 Mile Time Trial Championship (Women)
- RTTC 10 mile Time Trial Championships (Youth/Junior)
- RTTC 10 Mile Time Trial Championship
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- REPORT: Victor Berlemont Trophy Race
- RR Result: Junior Tour of Wales
- BMCR RESULT: Dulwich Paragon Road Race
- BMCR Result: Dinosaurs at the Palace
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Crit Result: Mountbatten Summer Circuit Series #10
- Crit Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series #25
- RR Result: Victor Berlemont Trophy Road Race
- Youth Results: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League 19
- Youth Result: 360 Cycling North West Youth Tour (Girls)
- Youth Result: 360 Cycling North West Youth Tour (Boys)
- Crit Result: 360 Cycling Open Circuit Race
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TT Result: Sussex CA 25m TT
- TT Result: Coalville Wheelers 19.8m TT
- Crit Result: Cliff Pratt Deca Community Crits 9
- Youth Result: Scottish National Youth Circuit Series 4
Other News on VeloUK
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TOM PIDCOCK CONFIRMED FOR LLOYDS BANK TOUR OF BRITAIN MEN
- Startlist: 42nd Junior Tour of Wales
- Startlist: 360 North West Youth Tour
- Tour of Britain: Evenepoel/Alaphilippe To Race National Tour
- GB Juniors for Track Worlds in China
- THIS WEEKEND: CYCLOCROSS (Leicestershire)
- Startlist: Men’s National B (Worcestershire)
- Startlists: Fenwicks Tour of Mendip 2024
- Startlists: 19th Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix Road Races
- Men’s Tour of Britain News: Teams for 2024 Race
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Revealed (Stages 5 & 6)
- NEWS: Women’s UCI Drops Team to Close
- Startlist: Youth and Junior Track Championships 2024
- Startlist: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Women/JuniorsYouth)
- Startlists: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Men)
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024
- Ribble Redefines Road with launch of Allroad
- BMCR: National Road Bike Time Trial Championship
- SUNDAY: Bath Road Club Junior National Series Road Race
- TLI CYCLING FEATURE: SUPER4SERIES
- NATIONAL CIRCUIT SERIES UPDATE 2024
- News: Josh Tarling Extends Contract at Ineos
- Tour of Britain for Men 2024
- News: Connor Swift Extends Contract with Ineos
- Updated GB Olympic Team News
- Sunday: 2024 Youth Circuit Race Championships (Cyclopark)
- ROBBED BY THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY – National Highways
- Startlist: BMCR National Road Championships E/F/G/H
- OLYMPIC NEWS – Team GB Announces First Riders for Olympics
- News: Alex Richardson Retires
- New Releases from Shutt Velo Rapide
- STARTLIST: Men’s British Road Race Championships