The Otley Cycle Races have received their second major sponsorship boost.

Hot on the heels of the news that DM Keith Ltd Skoda are to become title sponsors comes the news that there is also a backer for the inaugural ladies race.

Otley firm Nuflex are backing the Women’s Grand Prix which will be run for the first time on July 2.

The race will now be known as the Nuflex Muscle & Joint Gels Women’s Otley GP.

The women have previously had to ride in the men’s Classic Race. Now they have an elite race which is a direct response to Otley cycling star Lizzie Armitstead’s call for more women’s races after winning her Olympic silver medal.

Race director Giles Pidcock, is delighted that this event will come to fruition. He said: “This is just great news for us.

“We’ve worked really hard with the police, the council and the people of Otley to make a women’s race possible but of course nothing happens until someone agrees to pay for it and this is where Nuflex have been brilliant.

“They helped with some sponsorship for the races last year and now they are giving increased support.

“We’re really proud of the relationship we have with all our sponsors and together we’ve been able to build this event.”

Nuflex are sponsoring the Otley Reliability Ride to Kettlewell on Sunday over much of the 2014 Tour de France Stage One route. It starts at the Buttercross at 9.30am. Entry fee is £3.