photo credits @ UCI/Twitter
Great Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead won gold in the women’s road race at the Road Cycling World Championships in Richmond, Virginia today.
The 26-year-old rider won the 130 kilometer race by a mere wheel length over Netherlands’ Anna van der Breggen, with Megan Guarnier of the United States finishing in third.
“It’s a dream come true”, said Armistead.
Armistead also won the silver medal in last Sunday’s women’s time trial, with her Netherlands-based Boels-Dolmans team.
British Cycling president Bob Howden said: “This is a landmark moment. Lizzie represents the best of our great sport and deserves all of the praise coming her way.”
Armitstead said she would “empty the tank” in the road race as she attempted to make up for the disappointment of finishing seventh last year.
However, she was unable to rely on team support during the gruelling closing stages as Lucy Garner, Hayley Simmonds, Alice Barnes, Molly Weaver and Jessie Walker struggled to stay with her.
Armitstead appeared to have lost any chance of victory when she missed a breakaway of nine riders who layer opened up a minute’s lead over the peloton with less than 10 kilometers remaining.
However, the steep climbs and cobbles during the final lap took their toll on the leaders, as they were swallowed up by the ensuing peloton.
From there, Armitstead made her dash for the line during the closing 900 meters, but she still could;t get away.
Van der Breggen then led out the final sprint, but Armitstead had enough left in the “tank” to seize the victory.
“I just can’t be believe it,” said Armitstead, who last month won the UCI World Cup series for a second successive year.
“I took the decision to lead it on and then waited for the rush to come, but it never came. It will be fantastic to wear the rainbow jersey for the next year.”
Armitstead becomes only the fourth British women to win the title, following Beryl Burton, Mandy Jones and Nicole Cooke.
Top 25 Riders Name (Country) Team Result 1 Elizabeth Armitstead (Great Britain) 3:23:56 2 Anna Van Der Breggen (Netherlands) 3 Megan Guarnier (United States Of America) 4 Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) 5 Emma Johansson (Sweden) 6 Pauline Ferrand Prevot (France) 7 Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland) 8 Alena Amialiusik (Belarus) 9 Jolanda Neff (Switzerland) 10 Ellen Van Dijk (Netherlands) 0:00:09 11 Joelle Numainville (Canada) 12 Trixi Worrack (Germany) 13 Karol-Ann Canuel (Canada) 14 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (South Africa) 15 Christine Majerus (Luxembourg) 16 Lucinda Brand (Netherlands) 17 Tiffany Cromwell (Australia) 18 Elena Cecchini (Italy) 0:00:17 19 Rachel Neylan (Australia) 20 Lizzie Williams (Australia) 21 Malgorzata Jasinska (Poland) 22 Linda Melanie Villumsen (New Zealand) 23 Valentina Scandolara (Italy) 0:00:19 24 Evelyn Stevens (United States Of America) 25 Amalie Dideriksen (Denmark) 0:00:31
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