Bernard Hinault to appear at Otley Cycle Races

Cycling legend Bernard Hinault will be on hand at this year's Otley Cycle Races (Wednesday July 2), just days before the Grand Depart of the 2014 Tour de France, a stone's throw away in Leeds, Yorkshire.

Five-time Tour de France champion Hinault will be part of a delegation of Tour organisers, which also includes director Christian Prudhomme. Hinault will present the prizes on the podium, according to the Ilkley Gazette.

The Otley Cycle Races comprise five main events. The men's Otley Grand Prix doubles as the opening round of the 2014 British Cycling Elite Circuit Race Series, and the women's GP is part of the British Cycling Women’s Road Series. There are also support races, including those for under-14s and under-16s.

Felix English (Rapha Condor JLT) won the men's race in 2013, with Elinor Barker (Wiggle-Honda) taking last year's Women's Grand Prix event. Previous Otley GP winners include Mark Cavendish, Russell Downing, Steve Cummings, Jeremy Hunt, Scott Thwaites and Chris Newton.

The event is free to watch for spectators. For more information visit the Otley Cycle Races website.

Elinor Barker and Felix English win Otley Cycle Races

Wiggle-Honda and Rapha-Condor-JLT riders take honours in famous town centre races