Two of Great Britain’s Olympic cycling team will be bidding for glory on the streets of Otley tonight.

Ed Clancy and Andy Tennant, who have both been named in the five-strong team pursuit squad, are among the leading contenders for British Cycling’s National Elite Circuit Race Championship, which will go to the winner of the MAS Design Consultants Otley Grand Prix.

Clancy, who won gold in Beijing, has been in good form on the street circuits for the Rapha Condor team in the recent Halfords Professional Tour, and he will be one of the favourites, along with Burley-in-Wharfedale’s Scott Thwaites.

Last year’s winner recorded two victories on this year’s Halfords Professional Tour.

Thwaites would dearly love to win again and take the coveted national title, which was won in Otley back in 2005 by Britain’s top cycling star Mark Cavendish.

The local challengers also include Keighley’s talented youngster Tom Moses plus the Pool-in-Wharfedale brothers Joshua and Nathan Edmondson, who race professionally in Italy for Team Colpak Astro, and Valle Seriana Cere respectively.

Otley’s big Olympic hope, women’s road racer Lizzie Armitstead, had been entered for the main support race - The Chevin Cycles Classic - but is not expected to ride with the National Road Race Championships looming at Ampleforth on Sunday as well as the Olympics. She will no doubt be supporting her brother Nick as he bids for glory in the race.

The Chevin Cycles Classic starts at 7.15pm with the Elite Race getting under way at 8.30pm.