Armitstead holds on to claim maiden Women's Tour

BySportsbeat

Published 19/06/2016 at 17:26 GMT

Lizzie Armitstead became the first Briton to win the Women's Tour after safely negotiating Sunday's fifth and final stage from Northampton to Kettering.

Eurosport

Image credit: Eurosport

Finland's Lotta Lepisto won the sprint from the breakaway group to claim the stage honours but it was Armitstead who scooped the overall title.

The world road race champion – who also won silver at London 2012 – finished safely in the peloton to preserve her 11-second lead on South Africa's Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio.

Italian Elisa Longo Borghini was third overall, a further two seconds behind while Marianne Vos, the stage winner on Saturday, finished in fourth overall, 18 seconds behind Armitstead.

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"I feel very lucky because I am part of a country that loves cycling at the moment," said Armitstead – who rides for the Boels Dolmans team.

"I hope that bubble continues. Event like this certainly help.

"We had quite a lot of pressure on us today with the team performing so well all week. I couldn't let them down really so I'm relieved and happy that I did it for them."

Dani King was the next highest-placed Briton in 11th, with Nikki Harris 14th and Molly Weaver 17th.

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