Lizzie Armitstead wins Omloop Het Nieuwsblad classic in Belgium

By Matt Westby

Image: Lizzie Armitstead won the world road race title last September

Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead marked her first race as world champion with a resounding solo victory at the one-day classic Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in Belgium.

The 27-year-old formed part of a leading duo alongside Gracie Elvin (Orica-AIS) but then forged clear on her own with about 10km remaining and held off the chasing peloton to win by 29 seconds.

Armitstead's Boels-Dolmans team-mate Chantal Blaak sprinted to second place, ahead of Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon-SRAM) in third.

Armitstead said: "That wasn't exactly the plan. I was out there way too long. Wow. I'm really happy.

"I wanted to break up the group and I ended up on my own. I don't know how it happened, really. It wasn't an attack. It was just messing around and people watching each other and not watching me, and so that was really cool."

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Result

1 Lizzie Armitstead (GB) Boels-Dolmans, 3:25:00

Also See:

2 Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels-Dolmans, +29sec

3 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Canyon-SRAM, same time

4 Leah Kirchmann (Can) Liv-Plantur, st

5 Shelley Olds (USA) Cylance Pro Cycling, st

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