Lizzie follows in Beryl Burton’s tracks

Armitstead becomes only the fourth British women to win the title, following Beryl Burton, Mandy Jones and Nicole Cooke.

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. When Anna van der Breggen (Holland) went, Armitstead reacted superbly, chasing the Dutchwoman down and forcing her into second place with Megan Guarnier (USA) third.

Cyclists ride down Broad Street during the Women’s Elite road… “I’m just so focused on the process all the time”, she said. “You heard, ‘U-S-A!’ all over the course”.

“It’s really odd, I can’t believe I have won, I’m still in shock”. The Austrian held on for gold, whilst Rasmus Pedersen of Denmark, just one second behind, had to settle for bronze.

Victor of the UCI Women’s Road World Championship Cycling race, …

The race played out exactly as many predicted, with eight laps of the hard, undulating 10-mile course whittling the field for a bunch finish. But that didn’t stop attrition from setting in. Among those who were eliminated early were American sprinter Shelley Olds, who crashed going around a corner and never caught back up.

With about 15 miles to go, the first risky breakaway of nine riders materialized.

“With about a lap to go I thought, ‘This could be over.’ I couldn’t charge on my own”.

The peloton reeled in the remnants of the lead pack on the penultimate climb, with Armitstead and training partner Tiffany Cromwell of Australia battling into the final climb.

“It was such a odd sprint for me because I was on the front leading it out”.

“Any time Lizzie attacks, it’s going to put everybody in the hurt box, ” Guarnier said. “That meant that I believed in myself today, and I knew that I had to race selfishly and patiently”. “There wasn’t much option”.

Armitstead moved to the right up the final climb and surged ahead on the final straight, getting into a sprint fight with Van der Breggen over the closing stretch as the crowd roared.

Dutch rival Lucinda Brand raced in front and Armitstead countered to begin her run to victory. “That was because I had good legs”.

But the man synonymous with the Tour’s green jersey, which he has won four years in a row, will now don the rainbow stripes after a thrilling display. She is also the reigning cyclocross and mountain bike world champion.

Twelve months ago, Armitstead suffered heartbreak and, despite being one of the pre-race favourites, she was eventually caught on the final sprint and finished seventh.