When you’ve won nearly a third of the races you’ve started all season, including your national championships, and placed in the top ten for almost another third, odds are the peloton will be watching you closely during the world championship road race. Despite her name being at the top of the list of dangerous riders, Lizzie Armitstead still managed to pull off the perfect race.
Sitting quietly among the first 6 or 7 riders for the bulk of the race, the cunning Brit bided her time and kept her cool. When a 9 rider break gained a minute up the road and had none of her teammates in it with under 30km to go, Armitstead continued to sit near the front of the bunch, all the while looking comfortable. The break was reeled in before climbing 23rd Street for the last time. Armitstead moved to the front and escaped with a small group of talented riders. Not wanting to be the first to attack, everyone looked at each other, waiting for someone else to make a move. Armitstead was patient and timed her move to perfection. It came down to a sprint in the final few hundred meters and, despite Anna van der Breggen giving fierce competition, no one could catch Armitstead. The Dutch rider took silver and Megan Guarnier claimed bronze as well as a spot on the American team for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The American women were ready to go even during sign on.
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot wore number 1 as the defending champion.
Minutes ahead of the gun.
Roll out.
Hitting the cobbles of 23rd Street for the first of 8 times.
Megan Guarnier and teammate Shelley Olds.
Lizzie Armitstead.
Canada’s Karol-Ann Canuel ran her bike up the hill.
A full house at Libby Hill.
Evelyn Stevens 4th wheel and Lizzie Armitstead 7th.
Linda Villumsen.
It was the same scene on the following lap with the Netherlands on the front.
Denise Ramsden.
Kathryn Bertine.
Tiffany Cromwell.
Tayler Wiles.
The next lap, Evelyn Stevens shot up Libby Hill with Armitstead back at 5th wheel.
Trixi Worrack.
With no definitive break away formed, Stevens, still working for Megan Guarnier, attacked as the bunch at the top of the Governor Street climb.
Jeanne D’arc Girubuntu.
Poland’s Malgorzata Jasinka gained an advantage after attacking up Governor Street with just over a lap to go.
American sprinter Coryn Rivera took massive pulls on the front of the chase group, ultimately pulling the Polish rider back.
In the last lap, a break of about 8 had gone clear and someone was on her way to the rainbow jersey. Armitstead was at the front as they approached the false flat finishing straight and claimed gold just a few hundred meters later.
Settling for bronze, American champion Guarnier achieved one of her goals by securing a ticket to Rio.
Anna van der Breggen picked up her second silver medal after Tuesday’s time trial.
On the podium, the new champion could hardly contain her smile.
1st Lizzie Armitstead
2nd Anna van der Breggen
3rd Megan Guarnier
Armitstead’s emotional teammates joined on the podium for photos after the ceremony.
4 Responses to 2015 Worlds: Perfect Race Nets Armitstead Rainbow Jersey