Lincoln Grand Prix

In 1955, a group of four youth cyclists from Lincoln, England came together to form a road cycling club known as the Witham-Valley Road Racing Club. At the time a student engineer, Mike Jones was introduced to the newly formed club. He was a road racer from the Midlands who was working in Lincoln. Mike persuaded the committee of Witham-Valley RRC to promote a major road race and volunteered his services and time as an organiser,^[4] The first edition of the Witham-Valley Grand Prix took place in the summer of 1956. Huddersfield RC produced the race winner, Bob Eastwood who out-sprinted previous winner of the Tour of Britain, Tony Hewson, after 90 miles (145km) of racing.^[5] The following years, Ron Coe of Willson Cycles, would go onto start a dominant streak. Ron Coe started this in 1957, by out-sprinting Dave Bedwell on the line.^[6] The two riders would go on to do this a second time the following year.^[7]Ron Coe continued his successes in 1959, by completing his trio of wins by beating Harry Reynolds and Bill Bradley.^[8] The 1959 edition saw the tragic death of local rider Roy Hart who hit a van, whilst off the back of the peloton, and starting his last lap. The Roy Hart memorial trophy is still presented to the Grand Prix winner.^[9]

John Perks of Falcon Cycles would go onto win the following two editions of the race in 1960^[10] and 1961,^[11] followed in 1962 by Jim Grieves racing for Helyett Cycles.^[12]Albert Hitchin who was very dominant prior to the race^[13] took a lone win in 1963^[14] and lead a Viking Cycles 1-2-3 beating both of his teammates, Stan Brittain and Bernard Burns. Hitchin went on to retain the trophy for a second year in 1964 with England international rider Derek Harrison coming second.^[15] The 1965 edition was nominated as an official selection event for the road world championships. Arthur Durham won the edition beating Doug Dailey and Roger Claridge.^[16]

Velo Club Lincoln took over the Witham-Valley Grand Prix starting in 1966.^[17] A break away group of 6 riders would form in the 1966 edition of the race. Sprinter John Clarey lead the group from 60 miles out, holding off a chase group formed of Hugh Porter and Les West. Clarey won the race by 3 bike lengths^[18] ahead of Brian Rourke and Owen Davis who was Lincolnshire champion at the time. In 1967, New Zealander Des Thompson became the first foreign winner leaving a small break for a solo win.^[19] Third in the 1967 race was the present day commentator for the Lincoln GP, Roger Hobby.^[20]

El Velo Club Lincoln cambió el nombre del Gran Premio Witham-Valley a Gran Premio Lincoln en 1968. ^{[ 17 ]} Doug Dailey ganó la primera carrera llamada Gran Premio Lincoln, alcanzando a Les West en la recta final, con Graham Owen en tercer lugar en un pequeño grupo por delante del pelotón principal. ^{[ 21 ]} La clasificación del Trofeo Estrella se le otorgó al Gran Premio Lincoln. Durante los siguientes 3 años, ciclistas conocidos dominaron la carrera. En 1969, el ciclista polivalente del Clifton CC, Pete Smith, ganó por un margen de 1 min 51 s. ^{[ 22 ]} Tom Mullins ganó la siguiente ronda de carreras en 1970 en un gran final de pelotón. ^{[ 23 ]} Tanto en 1969 como en 1970, Ian Hallam del Beeston RC terminó tercero en el podio. En 1971, el ciclista de persecución en pista Dave Allen del Birkenhead North End CC terminó primero. ^{[ 24 ]} En la edición de 1972 hubo una lucha a dos bandas entre los principales corredores de carretera de Gran Bretaña, Phill Edwards y Phill Bayton . Brayton hizo un gran ataque a solo 2 millas de la meta, que Edwards contrarrestó con éxito y venció a su oponente por 3 longitudes de bicicleta en la línea de meta. ^{[ 25 ]} En un día lluvioso en 1973 Dave Vose venció a Peter Watson del Clifton CC y a su propio compañero de equipo John Clewarth para llevarse la victoria para Kirby CC. ^{[ 26 ]}  Steve Heffernan del Archer RC ganó el Gran Premio de 1974 donde Ian Hallam del Beeston RC quedó tercero de nuevo. ^{[ 27 ]}  1975 marcó la 20.ª edición del GP de Lincoln en la que Tony Gornall del Clayton Velo superó al sprint al pelotón principal liderando a casa a un selecto grupo de solo 17 corredores. ^{[ 28 ]} 1976 produjo una de las mejores carreras hasta el momento. La carrera finalizó con un sprint entre dos corredores tras una prueba muy rápida con una velocidad media superior a 26 mph. Bill Nixon superó a Joe Waugh y aventajó en 2 minutos y 33 segundos al futuro ganador de la carrera, Steve Lawrence . ^{[ 29 ]}

The 1977 edition was just as good a race with a breakaway group formed early in containing all the race favourites; however, it had a slightly chaotic finish. A junior race that was happening at the same time as the main Lincoln GP had just received their bell for the last lap, at which point, the race leaders came through the finish line approximately 30 seconds later. It was apparent to the organisers that the leaders of the men's race and remains of the break away would catch the juniors, so after a re-think the organisers added a 1 mile extension, leaving some of the seniors, including Dave Cumming, confused and temporarily losing contact with the race.^[30] Dave Cumming managed to out sprint Steve Lawrence and the remaining group to take the win.^[31]Ian Hallam placed 3rd yet again.^[31] At this point Steve Lawrence, who was riding for VC Olympia Sport at the time, had finished in both places other than first, on the podium.^[32] In 1978 he finally took the win, after working hard to chase down Scottish rider Robert Miller was 30 seconds ahead entering the last lap.  Miller dropped to 5th by the time the line came around again, after being caught by Lawrence and a number of other riders.^[33]

Lincoln Grand Prix gained International Status for racing in 1999.^[17]

The 2015 Edition was held as the British national championships^[34] and was also the first year of the women's Lincoln GP.

Sources:^[45][46]

Sources:^[45][46]