The 2015 Award was presented at the Yorkshire Cycling Federation Annual Luncheon, held on Sunday 28th February at Scarthingwell Golf Club, Barkston Ash, Tadcaster by Melvyn Gibson. Unfortunately due to Lizzie Armitstead’s busy schedule as World Road Racing Champion she was unable to attend in person and the Award was received on her behalf by her father, John Armitstead.
In receiving the award John was able to tell us that Lizzie had achieved her first win as reigning world champion the previous day, when she soloed to victory in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in Belgium. He went on to read the following message from Lizzie thanking the cyclists of Yorkshire for their ongoing support for her and telling of the tough climbs of the Yorkshire Dales, which are her training ground in preparation for these major events.
“I would like to thank the members of the YCF for this prestigious award. It is a great honour for me to join the likes of Beryl Burton and Brian Robinson and I particularly appreciate an award from Yorkshire, the home to so many enthusiastic cyclists. I always look forward to coming back to Otley and training with the North Leeds chain gang during the week, where I am always made so welcome. I am sure the Yorkshire landscape has also played a great part in my success. If you can set a good pace up Park Rash, Norwood Edge or Otley Chevin there is nothing too daunting elsewhere in the world.
Thank you once again for this award – it really means a lot to me.
Lizzie Armitstead”