Milk Race 1967

Les West (left) in his pomp rides in the break at the Milk Race in 1967. West won that year’s edition to reclaim the title he had last first won two years earlier. He’d lost out to Polish rider Józef Gawliczek in 1966, eventually coming in sixth.

The Staffordshire-born rider was still an amateur in 1967; you had to be to be in the race. Though he had nearly turned pro over the winter – a mix-up with contracts had stopped it happening – he decided to remain in the amateur ranks to give himself a shot at the Olympics in 1968.

During this fortnight of racing West was dominant, winning three stages and finishing on the podium of a further four. He could maybe have won another but gave the final day’s stage to team-mate Dave Paling, presumably as thanks for all his hard work during the race.

West would remain an amateur in 1968 to enable him to go to the Olympics but it didn’t go to plan. At the race in Mexico he suffered an early puncture and a long wait for a wheel. After a futile chase he abandoned the race.

He turned pro with HoldsworthCampagnolo in 1969 and remained with that squad his whole pro career through to 1978.

Cycling 17 May, 1917

Life and cycling continue through the war