Bill Holmes

Bill Holmes, also known as Billy, started racing in 1948 at the age of 12 when he joined the Reindeer Cycling Club in Hull. At 16 he moved to the Hull Thursday Road Club and that year won the Hull and District Cycling Association’s 25-mile time trial.

In 1955 Holmes broke the national 25-mile time trial record with a time of 55:59. The following year he went to Melbourne as part of the Great Britain road race squad, despite being originally short-listed for the 4,000 metres team pursuit. Holmes finished 14th in the individual road race, which was remarkable because he was involved in a three-cycle pile up after trying to avoid a spectator who ran on to the course to take a photograph. Holmes won a silver medal after the British squad finished second in the team race.

Holmes set a new British 50-mile time trial record of 1-55:14 in 1957 and in 1958 took part in the World Amateur Road Race Championship (finishing 14th), and the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, but failed to get a podium finish.

In 1960 Holmes went to his second Olympics in Rome but was not close to a medal in either the individual road race or 100km team time trial. However that year, he finished second to Bill Bradley in the Milk Race (Tour of Britain) but did win the points classification. Holmes went on to win the race in 1961 from Spain’s from Juan María Uribezubia and was runner-up again in 1962 when beaten by Poland’s Eugeniusz Pokorny, although Holmes was again the Milk Race points winner.

Holmes turned professional with Falcon Cycles in 1963 at the age of 27 and ended his competitive career in 1968 although he did continue racing once re-instated as an amateur, until well into his 40s.

Holmes’ wife Sheila Clark was also a cyclist and took part in the inaugural women’s world road race championship at Reims in 1958, finishing 15th.