Yorkshire’s Armitstead storms to world road race glory
The Otley rider defied the odds with a late charge to catch the race leaders and made her move on the final climb up Libby Hill, holding off Anna van der Breggen in a dramatic sprint finish at the UCI World Road Championships.
Armitstead is already Commonwealth champion as well as 2015 World Cup winner, but was clearly emotional having claimed the rainbow jersey.
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Hide Ad“This is the big one, the most special thing in cycling,” she said.
“It’s a dream come true.”
The 26-year-old raised her hand to her mouth in disbelief as she crossed the line a wheel’s length in front of Van der Breggen.
“I just couldnt believe it...I didn’t get to celebrate, I was just going all the way for the line,” she explained.
“It was such a strange sprint for me because I was in front, leading out and waiting for the rush to come and it never came.
“It was just perfect.”
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Hide AdArmistead’s sensational finish was all the more satisfying given the way the odds stacked against her as the race progressed.
With two of the eight laps remaining she was well placed but 20 kilometres from home a nine-strong break left Armitstead in the peloton.
With little support Armitstead was forced to shelve one attack and at one stage sat 36 seconds back with just 8km left.
But she reeled that in before embarking on her triumphant finish, beating Van der Bruggen and Megan Guarnier into silver and bronze.