Proud Armitstead is crowned champion

World champion Lizzie Armitstead clinched victory in the Aviva Women's Tour on the final day in Northamptonshire.
Yorkshire's Lizzie Armitstead.Yorkshire's Lizzie Armitstead.
Yorkshire's Lizzie Armitstead.

Finland’s Lotta Lepisto won the sprint from the breakaway group to claim the honours in the final stage but Otley’s Armitstead became the first Briton to win the title after finishing at the head of the peleton.

The margin of the Boels Dolmans Cycling rider’s victory was 11 seconds over Lepisto’s Cervelo-Bigla team-mate Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, with Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini third a further two seconds back.

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“Being a British athlete, a British cyclist, I feel very lucky because I am part of a country that loves cycling at the moment and I hope that bubble continues,” said Armitstead. “Events like this certainly help.”

The fastest ever 25-mile time on Yorkshire roads was clocked in the Yorkshire Road Club 25-mile time trial on Saturday, with in-form vet Keith Murray (drag2zero) taking victory with a course record time of 47.46.

The 41-year-old from Darlington took the win by 49 seconds on the V232 course between Knayton and Dishforth.

Leeds rider Adam Duggleby (Secret Training CC) took second spot, while Huddersfield’s Mark Thaxter was third with 49.59.

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York Cycleworks’ Jessica Bacon was the fastest female in the event, her time of 56.15 being 2.15 quicker than second-placed Rachael Mellor (Holmfirth CC).

In road racing, the Doncaster Cycle Festival took place yesterday with around 370 riders competing over eight racers.

The main event, the Winfrey Briggs Grand Prix, was won by Graham Briggs of JLT Condor.

Elsewhere, Manchester Wheelers’ Tamsin Vicary won yesterday’s Harrogate Nova Women’s Road Race. Brough duo Nicola Moore and Rebecca Longthorp completed the podium.