Being Tour de France favourite is an honour, says Pogacar
The 26-year-old world champion is looking for a fourth Tour de France victory after he triumphed in 2020, 2021 and 2024.
"It's been a great season, so far perfect. And going here to the Tour as one of the favourites, it's an honour," Pogacar told a press conference on Thursday. "I'm pleased and I hope I can live up to the expectations."
Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, winner of the Tour in 2022 and 2023, is expected to be Pogacar's strongest rival over the three weeks of racing
"The last five years were quite intense between me and Jonas," Pogacar said. "It's great competition, rivalry, and I think this year is more or less the same as the last couple of years. I'm looking forward to racing against Jonas again. I think he's in great shape."
The UAE Team Emirates rider showcased his form last month by claiming three stage wins and overall victory at the Criterium du Dauphine, finishing 59 seconds ahead of Vingegaard.
Pogacar said the opening week posed many challenges.
"As always, the first week of the Tour is one of the most intense, nervous weeks," he said. "You can quite easily lose the Tour de France in the first 10 days until the first rest day."
"I don't think my goal should be to aim to gain time for the first week, you just need to take care and not screw it up the whole tour... without any bad luck and some sort of incidents to survive the first week."
The race's first mountain day is scheduled for stage 10 while a time trial on stage five could provide an early opportunity for gaps to emerge among the general classification contenders.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
22 minutes ago
- BBC News
Diogo Jota: A Tribute
The deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre have shaken the sporting can watch a BBC iPlayer documentary on the Liverpool striker above and access it on iPlayer here.
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Make way for the Wimbledon WAGs! The glamorous (and VERY impressive) women taking SW19 by storm as they support their tennis ace partners on court
As the sun rises above the perfectly green pitches in leafy south west London, the glamorous WAGS of Wimbledon are preparing for two weeks of watching their sporty partners battle it out on the centre court. The world-famous tournament commenced on Monday, with the players and their girlfriends already sharing pictures and videos of SW19. The tennis wives and girlfriends - or TWAGS as they have become known - are known for their glitzy, jet-setting lifestyles and are often following their boyfriends, fiancés and husbands around the globe for prestigious tournaments. Some are even as famous as their partners in the tennis world themselves, and others have previously dated A-listers such as Jason Momoa and Timothée Chalamet. Tommy Paul's girlfriend Paige Lorenze has more than double the amount of followers as the athlete on Instagram and has launched her own business while also raking in extra cash through brand deals and collaborations. Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz and girlfriend Morgan Riddle are often dubbed the 'tennis Posh and Becks' with a modern twist - they met on a dating app. Eiza Gonzalez one of the latest TWAGs to join the exclusive group, after she confirmed her relationship to Grigor Dimitrov a couple of months ago, professing her love to him online. Paige has previously revealed that the European WAGS have their own WhatsApp group chat that they use to keep in contact with each other, with Louise Jacobi and Nina Ghaibi named as members. Morgan Riddle One of the most elegant and well-dressed WAGs in the stands is Morgan Riddle, who is dating Taylor Fritz. More than 400,000 people are interested in seeing her everyday life on Instagram, where she collaborates with brands (including 'Wimbledon Threads', an insta-series she launched last year in collaboration with the Grand Slam). She was also once dubbed 'the most famous woman in men's tennis' by the New York Times and seems to lead the WAGS through all major tournaments. Morgan recently posted a carousel of images of her enjoying Wimbeledon with the Instagram caption: 'We are sooo back.' She was seen sporting a tweedy baby pink belted dress with her cherry red Chanel quilted bag with a strawberry charm on it, paying credit to Wimbledon's famous fruits. She even tucked into some herself, as she sat and watched her boyfriend on the court. The American influencer is dating world no.13 Taylor Fritz after meeting on celebrity dating app Raya in 2020. Morgan, 27, uses her social media pages to document private jet flights, beach holidays, city shopping trips, and courtside seats as she travels around the world supporting her sports star beau. Her influencing career took off after she posted a TikTok asking her followers to help her choose an outfit for the Australian Open in 2022, gaining 1.5 million views. Another one gained seven million views with the caption: 'When you start dating a professional tennis player and literally all you do is travel the world, dress cute, drink champagne and go to Wimbledon.' Now, she and Fritz have become known as the 'Posh and Becks' of Tennis, and she says she spends around 40 weeks per year travelling as she follows him to major tournaments around the world. Morgan has even worked with Wimbledon itself in a 'Wimbledon threads' fashion insta-series in collaboration with the tournament. Morgan told The Age Australia: 'I think over those last two years I've transitioned from being Taylor Fritz's girlfriend to being Morgan Riddle.' She was born in Poland but grew up in Minnesota before moving to Los Angeles. She graduated from New York City's Wagner College with a Bachelor's Degree in English Language and Literature in 2019 and then went on to work as a social media director for a fashion brand. Fritz shares a son, seven, with his ex-wife Raquel Pedraza, who also played professional tennis. Paige Lorenze DATING TOMMY PAUL, 13th IN THE WORLD Paige is often seen front and centre in the boxes, watching Tommy Paul battle it out on the court in some of the world's most testing competitions, such as the US Open and Wimbledon. She joked that she was 'resuming my position as team chef,' a couple of days ago on Instagram as she posted pictures of her roasting tomatoes and cheese, seemingly cooking for Tommy and his comrades. Paige has already uploaded snaps showing off her chic Wimbledon ensembles from the famous green seated stands, as she joked that she was 'just here to supervise' her star athlete partner. But when she's not cheering on her boyfriend of three years, the glamorous blonde business mogul is focusing on her social media presence and her multiple businesses. The businesswoman has spent years cultivating a following of almost one million people on Instagram, where she often shares behind the scenes pictures and videos of her appearances at matches, along with promoting her American lifestyle brand, Diary Boy and her home brand, American Charm. Paige, who was a successful athlete in her early years, splits her time between the Big Apple and a charming home in Connecticut when she isn't with her beau traveling the world on the ATP Tour. 'Tommy continues to support me, my business Dairy Boy, and my life in Connecticut and in turn, I'm able to show my support by traveling with him and being by his side at every tournament,' she told Page Six last year. Lorenze launched Dairy Boy, a fashion and lifestyle brand, off the back of her success as an influencer in 2021. The brand quickly became known for its high design baseball caps, camo crewnecks, and jeans, before expanding into sweats and other apparel items. She met Paul at the US Open in 2022 and throughout the first year of their relationship, she joined him at tournaments around the world and continued building her personal brand. 'I really poured my time into my business and I now have two horses, I live in a beautiful house, and I have an amazing boyfriend. I'm fulfilling all of my dreams,' she told Page Six last year, ahead of the couple's first anniversary. She even has a business profile in Forbes, as well as an agent, manager, assistant, stylist and publicist to help her keep on top of her glam life. In a chat with Interview magazine last year, Paige described Wimbledon as 'very posh' and opened up about her fashion choices at Tommy's matches. She said: 'I got to a point where I was sort of like, 'I'm here for Tommy.' I love fashion, but I want to be comfortable at his matches. And Tommy comes first - before fashion statements. 'He is the least needy boyfriend, first of all. He's so supportive of me. He wants me to be doing what makes me happy. And as much as he wants me at every tournament, he totally understands. We just have such good communication.' Paige described their relationship as 'really healthy' and said Tommy 'wasn't dependent on me'. She also revealed that the European TWAGS have a WhatsApp group chat and said that although she was allowed to partake as an American, she doesn't use the app. Paige revealed that Louise Jacobi and Nina Ghaibi are in one of the groups. Last year, Paige went viral for all the wrong reasons as she posed for photographs together when Tommy won the Queen's Club title. After besting Lorenzo Musetti in the final, she broke the norm by joining her boyfriend on the court for a photo opportunity with the trophy. A video of their awkward posing went viral as the influencer is seen repeatedly grabbing her boyfriend by the nape while Paul stood stiffly in front of the cameras. Paige also dated disgraced actor Armie Hammer from September to December 2020. The following year, she was among several women who came forward to accuse him of assault. She alleged he used a sharp knife to cut his first initial 'A' into her skin and also repeatedly mentioned his desire to remove and eat one of her ribs. Her other high-profile exes include NHL player Kasperi Kapanen and singer Morgan Wallen. Nina Ghaibi ENGAGED TO FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME, 28th IN THE WORLD Nina Ghaibi, 24, is also not shy to show off her picturesque life, which includes walking her Pomeranian on a Moroccan beach in a bikini, jetting off to Rome and overlooking the sea at sunset on a tropical island. The talented Croat equestrian got engaged to Canadian player Felix Auger-Aliassime in November last year, with Felix writing on Instagram: 'Couldn't have dreamt of a better forever'. Another post showed the loved-up pair in Miami, with Felix writing: 'First date 6 years ago today in Miami and here we are 6 years later planning our wedding. Life is beautiful.' They started dating in March 2019, however, he didn't confirm their romance until 2021 - on their second anniversary. 'I'm pretty happy our paths crossed two years ago,' he gushed at the time. 'Two years of love and happiness. To many more in the future.' Since then, they have certainly not kept their love hidden from the public, sharing numerous cute photos and loved-up, PDA-filled snaps on both of their accounts. In August last year, she shared a gushing tribute to her beau in honour of his birthday, writing, 'Happy, happy birthday to this li'l sunshine. 'No matter how old you get, you will always be the same cutie. Thanks for making these last years everything fun and sweet.' The couple even attended the Met Gala together in September 2021, and they looked super glamorous on the red carpet. Nina donned a gold, shimmering dress with intricate lace details, while Felix opted for a white tuxedo. They started dating in March 2019, however, he didn't confirm their romance until 2021 - on their second anniversary The couple have travelled to places such as New York, Morocco, Italy and the Netherlands in their time together. Things are clearly serious between the two as they have even started spending Christmas together each year. In February 2023, they got their first dog together, a Pomeranian called Timmy, calling him a 'new addition to the fam'. And while Nina has shown her support for Felix by attending his tennis matches, he has also tried Nina's sport of horse riding. Even before meeting her partner, Nina was involved in the world of tennis, as her cousin is Australian tennis star Ajla Tomljanovic. Louise Jacobi DATING CAMERON NORRIE, 61st IN THE WORLD, FORMER BRITISH NO 1 Unlike the rest of the influencing WAGS, Cameron Norrie's girlfriend Louise Jacobi is more down-to-earth and prefers to live a much normal life while also enjoying the luxuries that come with being a TWAG. The Chicago-born textiles designer is often considered Wimbledon's star's secret weapon and is spotted cheering him on from the stands each year. Speaking to Tatler, Louise opened up about how she feels about the title 'WAG'. She said: 'I still remember the first time… I'd just started dating Cam and somebody was like, 'What's it like to be a WAG?' 'I was like, oh my god, I never thought about that… I think it's kind of ridiculous but I guess… that is what I am.' But the English graduate has no issue with the label, saying that she has always 'embraced' becoming a WAG. 'I've worked tirelessly to try to turn around the connotations - having that title [WAG] shouldn't mean that we're any less than because we choose to support our partners,' she added. Louise, 26, worked for Calvin Klein before joining New York-based Please Don't Touch as a textiles consultant. However, she previously told society bible, Tatler, that being a WAG makes it 'impossible' to have a career - other than being an influencer - due to difficulties planning ahead. Now in her fifth year on the tour, she has previously been described as a 'calm, positive impact' on Norrie by his parents. He was previously reported to have given up on his more partying, hedonistic lifestyle to be more professional after sustaining injuries in a moped crash around eight years ago. Louise was in the stands in October 2021 when Cameron became the first Brit to win the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. The couple - who have been dating since around 2020 - met through mutual friends in New York and now live together in Monaco. Louise admitted she was so new to tennis when she met Cameron that she barely knew the rules. Unlike the other WAGS, Louise chooses to keep her Instagram low-key, only posting every couple of months. Ayan Broomfield DATING FRANCES TIAFOE, 12th IN THE WORLD The stunning Ayan Broomfield - who is dating Frances Tiafoe - knows the game better than anyone else as she is a tennis player herself. The pair are childhood sweethearts after meeting as junior players, and celebrate their anniversary each year at Flushing Meadows. It's been said that the two athletes first crossed paths at the 2015 US Open, where they were introduced by mutual friend Victoria Duval, and that their romance began shortly after that. But it wasn't until three years later - on Valentine's Day in 2018 - that they made their relationship public. Since then, they have certainly not tried to hide their love, as Ayan has been spotted sitting courtside and cheering Frances on from the sidelines at numerous matches over the years. She even surprised the sports star when he faced off against Tomas Martin Etcheverry at the US Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston in April 2023. 'I also want to thank my girlfriend, Ayan, who I see in the crowd. 'I didn't even know you were in Houston. I thought you were in LA,' Frances said during his victory speech following the event. 'She surprised me, that's unbelievable.' He added on his Instagram Stories: 'Love this girl so damn much. You flew in for the final without me knowing. 'You didn't want to miss the moment. So thankful for my baby, my road dawg for real.' Like many of the other WAGs, Ayan has built up a wealth of Instagram followers over the years, plastering her glamorous, jet-setting lifestyle all over Instagram. She recently teamed up with New York designer Thom Browne for one of her first Wimbledon looks of the season, which consisted of argyle knee socks, a tweed blazer and a preppy skirt complete with a shirt and tie. The TWAG also has a charitable side, as she started her own tennis-led foundation to help provide tennis athletic wear and equipment to underprivileged youth but also has provided support to women's shelters. In January, Ayan hit headlines when she slammed the Australian Open for not having enough ethnic diversity in the crowd. She made a video on TikTok that said: 'POV, you go to the Australian Open and don't seee any [emojis of people of colour] girls.' The clip has attracted over 60,000 reactions and more than 1000 comments, mostly pointing out that some fans can't afford the steep prices to attend Australia's premier tennis event. Ayan then released a second TikTok to discuss the issue, calling for POC to rally and offering to get as many free tickets together as possible to get them to the event. 'I just made a TikTok about how I was at the Australian Open, I was there to watch my boyfriend play, and I didn't really see any other women or people of colour,' she said. 'In specific, black people, but people of colour nonetheless. 'What can I tell you? TikTok pushed it to the right community. I don't know how the algorithm works, but it did its job. 'A lot of people spoke about difficulty getting tickets, the heat, not feeling like they would belong and then not knowing any black players to support.' 'So, let me see if I can help. 'First thing, tickets, I don't know how many I am going to be able to get. But if you DM me, I can see if I can try and get you a ticket to go in. 'First come, first serve, and I will see what I can do.' Ayan, originally from Toronto, played tennis for Clemson University in South Carolina from 2016 to 2017. She then transferred to UCLA, where she played until she graduated in 2022. In 2019, she and her teammate Gabby Andrews won the doubles event at the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship. Ayan is also known for stepping in as Saniyya Sidney's body double in the 2021 movie King Richard. Saniyya portrayed acclaimed tennis legend Venus Williams in the biopic about the Williams family, which also starred Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, and Demi Singleton. A documentary about Ayan's career, called Ayan Broomfield Tennis Story, premiered on Amazon Prime in 2019. A synopsis reads: 'National Champion and All-American tennis star Ayan Broomfield reflects on her life in tennis, the influence of Venus and Serena Williams and the future of her professional career.' Katie Boulter ENGAGED TO ALEX DE MINAUR, 11th IN THE WORLD Katie Boulter, 28, is a talented tennis player in her own right, ranking number two in Britain and 43rd in the world. She is currently engaged to Alex de Minaur, 26, and the sporty couple are both playing at Wimbledon this year. The tennis power couple are regularly seen supporting each other when competing and celebrated their five year anniversary in March. In December, the duo delighted tennis fans around the world, announcing that they were engaged with a picture on Instagram. The pair were snapped smiling and hugging, with Katie draping her arm around Alex's neck, showing she was wearing a stunning engagement ring. 'We've been keeping a small secret…' they captioned the post. Last year was remarkable year for both stars, with Katie picking up wins in Nottingham and San Diego, while Alex was recently crowned champion at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown. Both have never shied away from celebrating the other's victories in the past, with Alex , 25, having paid a nod to Katie at Wimbledon in 2022, after she bested Karolina Pliskova. Katie is currently engaged to Alex de Minaur, 26, and the sporty couple are both playing at Wimbledon this year During a press conference, he told reporters: 'Before we talk about my match, can we just talk about Katie Boulter today? I mean, she had a pretty good win herself.' And after supporting each other over the past few years, the pair are quickly beginning to become two of the biggest players in the sport, considering their success on the court. It is understood they began dating back in 2020 but officially announced their relationship on Instagram in 2021, when Katie published a one-year anniversary snap of the pair on her social media accounts. Katie later revealed that the pair had known each other from playing on the pro tours but claimed a 6am coffee was where they first started dating. Recounting when they first met, the 28-year-old, who is ranked No 24 on the WTA Tour, told The Age: 'We bumped into each other at six in the morning and ended up getting a coffee. 'From that moment, I knew I was in it for the long haul.' She added: 'Growing up, I was always super-close to my grandpa: I always said to myself that if I can find someone who has half his heart, I'll be the luckiest woman in the world. I've found that person in Alex. Katie Boulter, 28, is a talented tennis player in her own right, ranking number two in Britain and 43rd in the world 'He puts me before himself all the time and takes care of the people around him – his family and his team. He's my best example of what I want to be.' But life in the spotlight hasn't always been easy for the tennis duo who spoke out earlier this year on how they had kept their relationship a secret from the public eye. 'Remember that time when we were having breakfast on like separate tables?' Katie asked her now fiance during an interview with Tennis TV. 'We would rock down to breakfast at different times,' Alex said. 'Different times, like 10 minutes later,' She added. 'It's so true, so people wouldn't find out.' 'It works every time,' Alex replied. Speaking on their rivalry, Katie said: 'We take it really well. 'We do like to throw some banter each other's way, and I think we handle it that way rather than any other way. 'We know we support each other. It's such an important start to each other's years and we'll always do everything we can for our country. 'I'll be supporting him every single time from the box for the rest of the year.' Jelena Djokovic MARRIED TO NOVAK DJOKOVIC, 6th IN THE WORLD Jelena, 39, is married to one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Novak Djokovic, 38, who has won a record 24 Grand Slams. She has been his number one supporter, appearing at a number of his matches, where she is not afraid to voice her opinions on the performance of her husband. The pair are childhood sweethearts, attending the same school in Serbia together, where they would play tennis before making their relationship official. They went on to date each other for eight years before getting married in 2013 in Monte Carlo, where Novak was living at the time. Despite the pair being together as Novak's career was taking off, Jelena had aspirations of her own. She ended up going to Bocconi University in Milan, where she studied luxury brand management and now works as a humanitarian, working to improve the lives of disadvantaged children. She is also the co-founder and global CEO of the Novak Djokivic foundation. Jelena, 39, is married to one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Novak Djokovic, 38, who has won a record 24 Grand Slams The pair are childhood sweethearts, attending the same school in Serbia together, where they would play tennis before making their relationship official Speaking about the organisation to HuffPost, Jelena said Novak and his family created the organisation in 2007 to help disadvantaged children in Serbia by giving them access to early childhood education. The Serbian has also tried her hand in modelling. Back in 2013, she was revealed as the face of lingerie and swimwear brand Figleaves. The beautiful couple share two children together, welcoming their first son Stefan on October 22, 2014. Jelena was pregnant with Stefan when the pair tied the knot in Monte Carlo. Jelena gave birth to their second child in September 2017, a daughter named Tara, and the couple also share two dogs together. The two poodles named Pierre and Tesla, and Jelena regularly shows them off on Instagram. However, while Jelena and Novak may seem like the perfect couple, they two have their fair share of disagreements, especially when it comes to their children having mobile phones. Previously speaking at the Davis Cup, Novak told Blic: 'My children still don't have a cell phone, my wife and I argue [about it]. 'The kids complain "At school, everyone has one except us." 'It's not easy and this is reflected on other levels as well. If everyone does something, the herd behaves like this, you have to follow them. Jelena - pictured onboard a boat - is also the co-founder and global CEO of the Novak Djokivic foundation 'Well, it doesn't have to be like that. This is where I think we differ from others, because we are stubborn and active.' Novak claimed he was the one who was 'responsible' for their children's 'activities, sports and healthy lifestyle' when speaking to the Tennis Channel. But after seeing Jelena's reaction to his response, he replied while smiling: 'Exactly - she's rolling her eyes right now as I'm speaking.' 'I keep reminding them of how important it is to be active and do sport, whether it's tennis, whatever it is. 'There are a lot of families and a lot of children from other players who are coming in so for them it's also a great experience.' Eiza Gonzalez DATING GRIGOR DIMITROV, 21st IN THE WORLD Eiza Gonzalez's relationship with Grigor Dimitrov, 34, was revealed in May after they were seen several times on outings together. The 36-year-old supported Dimitrov during his Mutua Madrid Open tournament, attending his match on April 26. She reportedly sat next to Eva Longoria during the tennis match, and she kissed Grigor on the cheek when he approached her at one point. The couple confirmed their relationship shortly after it whispers appeared in the press when Grigor shared a photo of Eiza from a David Yurman event in Miami, along with the caption, 'Are you kidding me,' plus fire and black heart emojis. Eiza has previously dated Jason Momoa in 2022 and Timothee Chalamet in 2020 Eiza Gonzalez's relationship with Grigor Dimitrov, 34, was revealed in May after they were seen several times on outings together She also publicly wished her new flame a happy birthday and professed her love for the tennis player, writing on Instagram in May: 'Happiest bday to the man of my dreams. '@grigordimitrov you're one of one. You truly are my absolutely favourite human, and I can't believe I've been lucky enough to find you. You've restored so much in me I didn't think was possible. 'To the kindest most thoughtful and caring man. I admire every inch of the human you are and are becoming. I cannot wait to celebrate many many more. I love you G.' Eiza is a Mexican actress and gained popularity for starring in the Argentine Nickelodeon teen sitcom Sueña conmigo. She has since starred in Baby Driver, Bloodshot, Ash and Fountain of Youth. Eiza has previously dated Jason Momoa in 2022 and Timothee Chalamet in 2020.
BBC News
32 minutes ago
- BBC News
Ilkley and Otley: The towns built around cycling
A record number of cyclists are expected to take to Ilkley town centre later as the streets are transformed into a cycling circuit. With the Ilkley Cycle Races taking place just two days after the Otley Cycle Races, the BBC has been asking what the events mean to the communities."It brings the whole town together," organiser Tom Harris watching as a teenager, Mr Harris now helps to run the Ilkley Cycle Races, which return to the town for an 11th year."Everything is just incredible - the atmosphere, there is something for everyone," he promoted to celebrate the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2014, the Ilkley Cycle Races are now "firmly established on sporting and social calendars", according to British Cycling."We have been absolutely blown away, from year one, by the community response," Mr Harris says. While Ilkley's 1.5km route is slightly more compact than Otley's 2.3km lap, it has higher in Ilkley will climb 105ft (32m) on each lap while Otley's riders climb 75ft (23m). Lining both routes are pop-up stalls creating a festival-like atmosphere in the towns."It is wonderful for the local community and as a local business it is wonderful to be a part of; it brings the whole town together," says Colin Hambleton, co-owner of La cafe is a popular spot for cyclists riding through Ilkley and this year the owners will return to the track for a third year with a spritz bar."It is something a bit different that is just raising Ilkley's profile across the local area and beyond," says Mr Hambleton."It is just really lovely to get involved with." On Wednesday night, calls of "allez allez allez" and the clangs of cowbells could be heard as crowds lined the streets of Otley."The vibe is amazing," says Gail Harrison, a server at Uncle Joe's fish and chips."Everybody is so happy and jolly so it is really, really good."The chippy on Bondgate is directly behind the finish line of the one night only, the opening hours are extended and the national dish of the UK is served until late."For small businesses it does impact us greatly, we are looking at a closure of around midnight but it is well worth it," Ms Harrison says. Also among the businesses to benefit was the Otley Joe Scholey runs the Otley Burger Company from the bar, and set up a food truck alongside the track."Trade triples," he told the BBC."The pubs are full, on the cycle route they are absolutely rammed, it is a good laugh for everyone," he says. Bellowing above the whoops and cheers of the crowds, Otley Bellman Terry Ford opened the race on his proclamation, he boomed: "This is a town built around cycling!"According to British Cycling, Otley Cycle Races is one of the most prestigious in the is also one of the longest-running crit races in the country, transforming the centre of the town into a circuit annually since 1985."If you look around the crowds it is busier than it ever has been at New Year," Mr Ford told the BBC."Otley Cycle Races are well known as a party with a bike race in its centre."It will bring in thousands upon thousands of pounds of revenue which is wonderful." Both Ilkley and Otley's cycle races attract junior competitors and seasoned cyclists lap record is currently held by Leeds-based Tom Pidcock, who won Otley Cycle Races in the crowds craning for a glimpse of the some of the UK's top cyclists in Otley was James by his toddler, the 41-year-old told the BBC he had finished work early to catch the build-up."We have been the last couple of years, as [my son] is growing up he is certainly getting more into his bikes."I was explaining to [my son] that he might see some famous people."We are really lucky actually, just seeing the town busy is nice." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
