28/09/2013 Cycling

Armitstead gets a silver for Great Britain.

Here he comes, it Wigmore Hall. -- Wiggins is the Olympic champion.

Chris Froome crosses the line as the winner of the 2013 Tour De France.

I hardly need to tell you where I am, the world famous Ponteveccio in

Florence and one of the defining images of the London Olympics was

Britain's first woman which came courtesy of Lizzie Armitstead. The

ball -- battle is rejoined today, this time for the world title.

COMMENTATOR: They aren't crawling along. They're getting stuck into

it. What a fall that was. The pressure is not going to let off

now. It's Lizzie Armitstead, the Yorkshire lass, immediately all over

her like a rash is Marianne Vos. The rain is battering down. The

cacophony of applause ringing out for Lizzie Armitstead, who looks as

cacophony of applause ringing out though she is trying to ride away

from the of rest. Vos is having a go. The race is exploding into

action now. Can Armitstead spring a surprise as the rain begins to pour

down. They're on the red carpet of Tarmac here of the mall. We're

inside 200 metres to go. Vos is leading. Can Armitstead challenge?

Vos is at the front. They grit their teeth, both riders look into the

line. Where will the Gold Medal go? Vos takes gold and Armitstead gets

silver. Yes, great images from London there.

Some great weekend racing in store here from Florence with the men's

race tomorrow and Froome from and today -- Chris Froome and today

Lance Armstrong and Marianne Vos. You ride for Australia and our own

Kris Boardman is here. Let's sett up road racing in cycling. It's almost

the most interesting to understand, particularly team work. It's

impossible to win a race these days without a strong team behind you.

You need to be protected by the wind and stay on the wheel. It makes a

huge difference in cycling if you have team-mates around you or if you

do it all alone. Chris, you've done a lot of work with British cycling

and looked at the figures, what savings are being made, let's say

littlesy is in the middle -- Lizzie is in the middle compared to being

at the front. They're going flat out on the front trying to break away.

Then 30 places back into the peloton and you can see people free

wheeling. That's why you need team-mates who go and do all that

chasing, keeping it together until you're ready to make the move. If do

you a lot early on, you won't have it at the end of the race. It's a

complicated thing. The breakaway is a funny thing, because the peleton

let's the break away and then there's a conversation and they say

that's enough. It's very technical, cycling, it's not at this point that

the lead riders are the lead riders for the race. They will lead at a

the lead riders are the lead riders certain point in the race but not

the key riders. Some of the riders may say I'm not going to

the key riders. Some of the riders because my leader is back there and

she has the ability to win. Buff I can't beat -- but I can't beat these

riders so I'm not going to do anything so I'm going to hope it

will come back. Hopefully the race will become clear. The race is

ongoing. These guys are commentating along sit Simon Brotherton.

Yesterday a new UCI presidentuals along sit Simon Brotherton.

elected -- president was elected, Lucy Cooke -- Brian Cookson.

Congratulations. What were the emotions like yesterday when the

vote came through? It was an emotional moment. It represents a

cull maination of the things that we've worked for, not just in the

last few weeks, but back to the, well, when I first started cycling

and became more involved in administering the sport. It's the

highest possible position to achieve in the sport. It's a great honour.

I'm delighted that the, my colleagues from around the world

decided that theyn't wanted me to -- that they wanted many eto lead the

union. It came to a vote because the process seemed to go on and on and

union. It came to a vote because the on. Yeah it was pretty horrendous,

as anyone who was following it will recall. We must have been going

around and around in circles, legal arguments, for several hours. In the

end I said, look, enough is enough. I think we've all had enough. Let's

just Gove to a straight -- let's go to a straight vote. Mr McQuaid was

happy with that. We went it a vote. We took the vote and I won 24-18.

I'm obviously very happy about that. You can enjoy the World

Championships, but come Monday, I suspect, there's a burningoning

in-tray waiting for you? Yeah, there's work to be done. But I'm

in-tray waiting for you? Yeah, sure I have a lot of support from

around the world, from the different organisations involved in cycling

and outside the world of cycling, in the world of sport. I'm sure we can

make a fresh start. Though I've got a lot of work at the head of that

arrangement, there's lots of people out there who will help me as well.

You've made some progress this morning? Yeah, we've made some

progress appointing three enough vice-presidents. Also the first

woman of the vice-president as well. There is a very important reason for

appointing that viceries because women's cycling very much part of

your plan. We can really put a big boost behind women's cycling and get

more women involved in the administration, the sport, look at

what women want to see to develop the sport. I'm confident that we can

take women's cycling forward strongly now. Your priorities? Well,

the main priority is getting the anti-owe doping -- anti-doping

issues dealt with. It's about also, putting in place a commission to

look at the problems of the past and investigate the allegations.

Actually to start to learn the lessons from the past. Until we've

learned those lessons we won't be able to move forward. We are making

progress, we are getting those things under way. Those things are

at the top of the in-tray. Best of luck. Thank you.

It was an acrimonious campaign against the incumbent Pat McQuaid.

It almost descended into farce yesterday. Then Brian stepped in and

showed Great Leadership and hopefully, it marks an end with

perhaps what's gone in the past and a fresh start? Yeah, at one point

they seemed to be voting on whether it was possible for them to have a

vote. It was getting quite ridiculous. Everything was

frustrated but didn't know how to get out of it. Then Brian said,

let's' have a vote. Pat McQuaid agreed and off they went. That's

exactly what the sport needs right now, leadership. I've known Brian

for 30 years since he organised the tour of Lancashire. He's passionate

about the sport. He's honest as the day is long and he's the perfect

person to be in charge right now. Two things heavals focussing on --

he's focusen -- focussing on, women, obviously, but also the drugs issue.

How tough is the task? Because of the revelations that have come out,

everything is thinking drug cycling, but it's a better shape than it's

been for a long time. We've have biological passports, lots of

things. We need belief that the system is applying the rules evenly.

You talk about truth and reconciliation commission, he talked

about Lance Armstrong giving evidence there, who tweeted,

"Hallelujah" when Brian Cookson was elected. Do you think the sport will

say, we've seen enough of our dirty washing in the public, let's move

on? I think we now have someone to trust to take it forward. Pat

McQuaid, when something goes wrong on your watch, and you're the CEO,

they resign and everybody moves forward. That's what has had to

happen on this occasion. Briefian is the perfect -- Brian is the perfect

person to deal with this. You manage the to the Honda team. And somebody

you know well has come in, Steven Godden -- Tracy Godrick, how well is

she placed in the role? She's very determined to achieve things in

women's cycling. She's been involved as an athlete and now in the

management side of things for a long time. Ive think it shows a -- time.

I think it shows a lot about Brian that he says we kneed a woman in the

vice-president position and to lead the commission. You can see the

women just behind me are starting their second lap of what is a

challenging circuit and we have a guide to the course.

Although the races started some kilometre from here, it only really

gets going when they get to the finishing circuit here in Florence.

There are really tough climbs on this 16-and-a-half kilometre

circuit. Tho the riders will have to tackle this four-and-a-half

kilometre climb, five times, it is the toughest descent on the circuit,

but I don't think it's where the battle will be fought. As they reach

the summit, if the riders aren't already stretched out into a thin

line, they certainly will be as they already stretched out into a thin

get here, through the houses onto the narrow, twisting descent.

Because it starts immediately, if a breakaway goes, there's no

possibility of forming a chasing group. Also, if the forecasted

showers do arrive, that will make the fast descent interesting. Having

swooped down the five kilometre descent and not having had a chance

to regroup, the riders hang a right and arrive here. Now it might be

just 600 metres in length, but at 16% maximum gradient and being just

5. 5 kilometres from the finish, it proves an excellent opportunity for

a late attack. I think there's just one more chance around the corner.

Before they arrive here, there are one or two tiny pimples, absolutely

nothing compared to some of the terrain that they tackle today, but

their location in the final few minutes of the race could make them

absolutely pivotal. As we've seen, there's lots of different scenarios

that could play out with this course not favouring any one type of rider.

that could play out with this course We can be certain of three things:

The punchy classics riders will want to keep their powder dry until the

last second. Whilst the climbers are going to need to make life difficult

for them from the moment they get on the circuit, which means combined,

we are going to get an action-packed and very open day of racing.

Chris went round the course in a car. We have ridden the course.

Whattuals your impression -- what was your impressions of it? It was

-- it is very, very hard. We've heard a lot that it's one of the

hardest World Championships in many years. I hear that every year. Until

I road the course, I didn't realise that it really is a very tough

circuit. Well, that's the course. Let's hear from the British team led

by littlesy Armitstead. --iesy Armitstead.

Good to see you again, how does it feel to be back at the World

Championships? It's nice. It's a competition where you feel proud and

Championships? It's nice. It's a you feel the pressure and Sts

exciting. -- it's exciting. Cycling, you do so many races in the season,

and it's nice to come to a race where you really feel something. How

often do you think back to the Olympics? What are your strongest

memories? When I'm having low points I think back and when I start to

think - do I belong in the top level I think back and when I start to

of women's cycling? I think back to that day. I definitely did that day,

there shouldn't be anything stopping me. But it can be difficult. So,

yeah I use it as a reference point. ( I messed up a little bit in the

last 500 metres. Ive think I should have -- I think I should have tried

to go before she was in the sprint. She was faster on the day and I was

happy with silver. How do you describe Vos as an athlete? I think

for me, Marianne Vos is a natural rival because she's the best in the

world. In every race she is one of the favourites. She's the girl who

took gold from me in my home country as well. Of course, there's going to

be a natural rivalry. I think it will be an interesting championships

this year. I think the Italians will give her a run for her money. Can

you benefit from that? I hope so. It's going to be an interesting

worlds for me. It's a course that is very hard and a lot of climbing,

which I can benefit on tough courses, whether I can benefit on

such a course with such climbs, I'm not sure. I will take that as an

opportunity and relish it. And again, be grateful for the work that

the girls will do for me. Whether I'll be able to top it off with a

medal, I'm not sure. What do you see as your main role? Littlesy has a --

Lizzie halls a good -- halls a good as your main role? Littlesy has a --

chance of getting her role. It will as your main role? Littlesy has a --

be possible to get her to the front when needed. Chasing down early

breaks. When it comes to the laps, it's hard and I think it will tear

apart quite quickly. It will just be trying to survive as much as I can.

Double world champion, How does that feel? Really good. It's a lot

different to the past two years. A lot longer race, but I'm really

looking forward to it. A little bit more at stake for you in the road

race? Yes, Saturday will be my final race as a cyclist. It's a big one

for me. It's my fifth time riding the World Championships. I know how

it works and I know if what I have to do. I want to end on a positive

note. It's a decision I'm happy with and I want to continue to finish off

in a professional way. To be calling time on what has been a really good,

professional career, why? I guess that's something that everyone has

said, oh, you're so young, you're only 23, but my decision is based on

so many aspects. For me, at the moment, I couldn't see myself as

anything more than a domestique. I have loved working with my

team-mates. But the salary is not massive. There isn't a massive

future. It's always a gamble whether you will have a job next year. I

thought that it's a hard job to do to be uncertain of what your future

always is. Ive thought I could -- I thought I would work somewhere else

and have a bit more stability. Lizzie Armitstead leading the

British team here. But perhaps not as full of confidence as we might

have anticipated? No disrespect to Lizzie, she's had a fairly quiet

year this year. It's hard to get over something like the Olympic

Games she had, which was fantastic. I think she only has one win so far

this year. It's not the ideal Serb kit. -- circuit. If anybody gives

her an opportunity, she will take it. In terms of the British team,

not the strongest of supports there. No, it's not the strongest British

team on the start with the absence of some of the stronger riders.

Lizzie is quite good condition and training yesterday she was really

strong. She's fit and healthy. So I wouldn't under estimate her. She has

an outside cha chance -- chance of a medal. It will be hard without a

supporting team. Everybody is talking Vos, who has won five

silverles and two golds. Cuff see beyond her? She's the clear

favourite. Then Emma Johansson of Sweden is the world number one and a

classy bike rider. Chef could take her opportunity. Then again, the

Dutch team is strong and the Italian team is full of name and strong

climbers. They will be a team to beat. Get yourselves to the

commentary box. If you've got any questions for Rochelle or Chris or

Simon, it's #BBC cycling or@BBC Sport is the handle. During the last

three-and-a-half laps, they will answer those questions. Now we hand

over to Simon Brotherton for the rest of this race.

Thank you Jonathan. They're on the second climb of the ascent at the

moment. For the second time it's the second climb of the ascent at the

USA on the front. The United States put virtually all their riders on

the front of the peleton. They set a high tempo and it did damage. It

whittled the field down. Going through the finishing line, we had

Polspoel from Belgium in the lead by 16 seconds. 44 riders in a group

were behind her, among them all the leading riders and contenders,

including Lizzie Armitstead of Great Britain, the defending champion,

Marianne Vos, of the Netherlands and Giorgia Bronzini. News on the other

British riders in the field today, Colclough, of whom you were hearing,

saying this was her last race at the age of just 23, well, about five

minutes ago she was two minutes 13 seconds down. Nikki Harris was

alongside her. And loosy Garner, last year's world junior champion

has gone through the finishing line, six minutes 47 down having been

dropped early on the climb. There is Armitstead on the right side of the

picture. In her white crash helmet. Chef has the Great British Jersey on

a most live white coloured Jersey. But USA on the front again, on the

climb, with McGrath, Italy also getting involved as well.

climb, with McGrath, Italy also It was a grey, heavy, overcraft

morning. Thankfully, the sun, that's -- has burnt the cloud away to leave

us with a lovely, still, beautifully warm afternoon.

Now the real bills of this finishing -- real business of this finishing

circuit. The finishing line just a stone throw from the football

stadium. The race very much on now. I'm amailsed -- amazed that the

American team spent so much energy on lap one there.

. All the favourites are still there. I was really surprised to see

how strong they road in the first part of the race the USA. They

really wanted to make a point come intoing those circuits -- coming

into the circuits. They're down to two riders at the front now.

Obviously Abbott is the clear favourite. A really good climber.

They're giving 100% to Abbott today. She could be a real factor,

Rochelle, because it's not just about Marianne Vos, this one and

Armitstead, perhaps this is not the ideal circuit for her. Maybe she can

hang in there and come up with a ideal circuit for her. Maybe she can

good ride on a very good day for her, you never know. Riders like

Abbott have a real chance on a circuit like this. Yeah Mara Abbott

would be a favourite. She's such a good climber. She's so comfortable

with the other riders are expending energy to get over the climb. Lizzie

Armitstead is an outside chance for a medal. I think she's in great

form. I was training with her yesterday. She looked very powerful.

She's just relaxed, taking a bit of pressure off herself, given she

hasn't got a very strong team. She's an outside chance for a medal today.

Now starts a technical descent, like a ribbon of spaghetti through the

trees. Certainly it's a very fast descent on a beautiful surface.

Because it comes immediately after the climb, there is no moment at the

top for regrouping. It could be quite decisive in the race, monther

so than -- more so than in the race I think. I think there are four

Americaniersies there. -- Americaniersies

Stephens was the first of the American riders to go over the top

there. McGrath is still there. Dvorak is there and the leading

rider is Guderzo. Van Vleuten is on the front. We saw

yesterday that races can be would be on -- won on the descent. They will

try to stretch everybody out. There's good bike handling required

to come down here. Just to say that every metre of this

circuit, every metre of the whole race route, actually, has been

relaid in preparation for these championships. Itles cost the

Italians -- it's cost the Italians millions of euros to make these

preparations. The road surfaces are Sebbing tack already and --

spectacular, and they're silky smooth.

To have the race wheels in and be on a fast circuit, it's just a buzzing

atmosphere for the women today. There was a lot of talk coming into

these championships that this was the hardest course for many a long

year and that it was one for the climbers, maybe one for the

punchers, those classics riders. I don't know what you feel, it but it

strikes me that more riders have been involved or have been in with a

shout with a lap to go than we might have expected in the races we've

seen, the under 23 men, the junior races so far. That's definitely the

case. I road the course and thought it was one of the hardest courses

I've seen in the past ten years. Then we saw the under 23 men's races

and junior races that there were more people at the finish than

expected. That gave hope to sprinters in the race. The unique

thing about this championship is that pure climberlies think they can

win and -- climbers who think they can win and also the stayers who

think they can win. Brand has spotted that. That puts Marianne Vos

in the driving seat. She doesn't have to do any chasing. A team-mate

is up the road. It is developing quickly. It looked like one of

theive Italian riders as Interesting that they chose to

attack on the decent not on the climb. Very swiftly nullified.

They'll be heading in the direction of the second climb on the circuit.

This is a really interesting one. This is where the men's junior race

was won and lost earlier this morning. It's like a 600-metre long

wall. Only 25 or so riders there. It might be our camera angle. It's been

whittled down further. All four of the remaining Dutch riders right at

the front having a chat. There's Giorgia Bronzini, the two-time world

champion and Charlie Mulgrew -- Ashleigh Moolman from South Africa.

We're left with the big names already. There's a lot of racing to

come here in the women's road race World Championships. At the back,

riders are just coming back. The climbs are very hard. They're only a

few minutes long. The gaps aren't climbs are very hard. They're only a

that big. You can't coming back all day. You get one or two chances, but

if you've been dropped at this stage, the writing is probably on

the wall. Now we have an attack on the far side of the road. It's from

the Swiss. Scandolar from Italy as well. It's amazing how the Italian

team pull together. Such a strong World Championship team. They have

so much pride in riding for each other when they come to the World

Championships. They've had other when they come to the World

phenomenal success over the past year. They have such a strong team.

It Bronzini, a two-time winner, Guderzo, former world champion,

Longo Borghini, who won a bronze medal last year. Such strength in

depth. Getting them all to pull in the same direction and fight for one

rider in particular, that must be no mean feat. Here we are on the second

climb. Lizzie Armitstead up towards the front. It may not look like too

climb. Lizzie Armitstead up towards much and perhaps the television

angle doesn't give it full justice. Trust me, after a few times round

this you real live feel this in the if legs. It's a maximum gradient of

16%. On the previous lap they were down to 11 kilometres an hour. That

gives you an indication of how tough it is. It's not long, but it's in a

strategically important position at 3. 5 kilometres to the finish. You

have that climb earlier on of four kilometres and you descend. You

don't have much recovery. Then it sneaks up on you and it's already

there. The sting is in the legs from the first climb.

It's amazing how much damage it's doing. A lot of those riders have

had a big fight down the descent just to get back in touch and then

they turn a sharp right and they're onto this climb. So 600 metres, it

can be an awful long way if you're already on the limit. That's the

Australian rider, Carley Taylor, she's a future talent. She's a

really good climber. Gillow has been the big hope. She's hit a Plateau,

and it will be interesting to see if she can lift her game over the next

couple of years. Armitstead is right in the action. She's riding well.

You were saying that you saw her yesterday in training and she looked

in good shape, better than she has perhaps at other parts of the year.

Yeah, she's very fit at the moment. She did a couple of efforts

yesterday and she looked extremely strong. She's been quietly spoken

about this year's World Championship. I think that she's

capable of more than she's leading on. She is healthy and fit. She's in

form. Chef hasn't done much this form. Chef hasn't done muchthis

this season. -- she hasn't done much this season.

I was in Glasgow to watch the national championships and she was

switched on for that race, powerful and strong. A similar course. This

one is a little more difficult but with the same punchy climb. Sheaves

capable if she -- she's capable if she hangs in there.

She has got form as well in the World Championships, seventh in the

worlds in 2011. I think she has another top-ten finish in a previous

year. Always tactically smart and we've seen in the opening stages,

she's good at positioning herself. She's pretty much isolated. Yes, she

is. Once the favourites, up said she's been quietly spoken of, all

the favourites start to watch each other and it might present an

opportunity to just attack. They'll watch each other for a few seconds

and she could turn that to her advantage.

In the junior men's race you, one of them broke away, there were two

already in the lead, not by much, but found an extra burst of speed.

He shot away. He won the Gold Medal. Still a lot of people in with a

shout here in this road race. Despite the fact that Marianne Vos a

clear favourite. The champion last year. Second five years running

before that, twice a world champion. What an incredible rider. Just over

50 clockers to to go. -- kilometres to go.to go. Ive she will like the

way this race is panning out. She to go.to go. Ive she will like the

would prefer more team support. Buff it's hard. She's got more room to

manoeuvre. She has no responsibility to do riding on the front. She can

watch and see how it develops. She's in a good position now. They come

round with three kilometres to go. America still clueing -- choosing to

set the pace here. I'm not sure how this is helping them. Probably just

keeping the group whittled down. Italy quite prominent towards the

keeping the group whittled down. front now. This is the last little

incline in the entire race. Guderzo hits the front and is very quickly

closed down. It does seem, until now, that the Americans are the only

team that have that clear objective of making the race really hard from

the start. They've been constantly attacking from the front. They have

confidence in their lead rider, Mara Abbott and also Stephens is in

there. One or two questions coming in from viewers. Perhaps one for you

Rochelle. Can we envisage a full women's pro circuit like the men's

in the next five years? Yeah, it's one of my dreams to see, now that

Brian Cookson is in the position as president, it's likely we will see

more of the very prestigious women's races on the. R. -- races on the

calendar. We have a huge desire to have a women's Tour De France. Let's

not forget next year there's a have a women's Tour De France. Let's

women's tour of Britain. This is hay huge step forward for women's

cycling. One or two riders there, at the back end of the field. At the

front of the race, little discussion there going on between Guarnier and

Stephens of the United States. We were talking about the position

of women's cycling. Instanting appointing a commission to look at

promoting and developing women's cycling, in his first few hours in

the post and what you could do. There's several things that kneeled

to be addressed -- needs to be addressed. We need strength in

depth, which we see only at the biggest races, so it doesn't

instantly whittle down to a group of two or three. To do that, there

needs to be incentive to get into the sport. It needs to be televised

and given the publicity. And the events that already exist, buff they

need to be -- but they need to be publicised. That's right. We could

see a significant change in women's cycling. During the election, Brian

Cookson was saying it was one of hills top priorities to support --

his top priorities to support women's cycling. To see he has

appointed a woman as the vice president in the UCIuals a huge --

UCI was a huge step. His statements about developing women's cycling may

come to fruf wig. He's -- fruition. If you thought it was hard getting

electioned -- elected, wait until he sees the tray on Monday morning.

He's got stuck in straight away. Little discussion again between two

of theive tallians -- of the Italians. Probably only about 30

riders left at the moment in contention, if that. Everybody you

see starting to take the opportunity on this rare, flattish road to grab

something to eat. So, so important to stay on top of eat figure and

drinking in this race, because with so much action and so many climbs,

it's ease why toy forget that and -- easy to forget that and you pay a

price. Quite a lot of discussion going on

between the American team deciding what they want to do. They came into

the circuit and they've done all the damage. They're largely responsible

for the group being the size it is now. It seems to me they're talking

about changing tactics now. Should they continue with this since all

the favourites are still there? Or do they keep driving? The chatter is

all among the United States' riders and the Italian team at the moment.

The Dutch are happy to sit there and loiter. I think the Italians and

Dutch have had many opportunities in the past to rived together. Buff

this -- to ride together. But this USA team has young riders. In most

teams the nations appoint one person captain on the road that makes all

the decisions. But there needs to be a lot of discussions between the

riders. Then the lead rider will make the final decision on how to

race the next couple of laps. Three laps to go of this 16. 5

kilometre circuit. A question, "Do the men and women do the same

course? The answer is yes, they do. The short answer: Yes. This is the

course that will be used by the men tomorrow. But they do ten laps of

this finishing circuit rather than five. That really is going to be a

tough day out, isn't it? The climb will start in the not too

distant future here. Just a few roads on the edge of the city.

There's Armitstead, number 50. Number 18 is worth keeping an eye on

too, Emma Johansson, the current world number one. Sheaves been a

medallist in the World Championship race before. In terms of numbers

she's had a big team with her today. But Johansson, I don't think Farlin

is there. No, she's isolated there. She is one of the favourites today.

She was the first rider in six years to take number one from Marianne

Vos. I think she has a point to prop today and really note investigated.

She is known to pull off results riding by herself without strong

team support. Vos is outrageous live talented. Is -- outrageously

talented. This year Marianne Vos hasn't raced as often as in the

past. Sheaves put more folk -- she's put more focus into the mountain

bikes. She's still one of the best bike riders in the road in road

sierkling and -- cycling and is the favourite today. If you're not

familiar with Marianne Vos, she is the world champion, the Olympic

champion, she's won the World Cup this year. She won five of the eight

races. She's won classics. She's won an Olympic title on the track on the

points race. She rides mountain bike. Extraordinary athlete in terms

of any sport. Shall we try to find something she hasn't done. She's

done just about anything and everything. She's probably the most

successful cycling across the board of men and women.

successful cycling across the board You can see the riders choosing to

pick up a bottle. If they wanted to, it's a risky strategy, but being as

the laps are less than half an hour, they could choose to ride with a

single bottle and pick one up each lap. But if you drop a bottle, you

have no Plan B at all. The Americans, one of the few advantages

of sitting on the front here all day is you get to go through that feed

zone at your own speed. You're almost guaranteed to make sure you

get a bottle. If you're on the left side, you have to miss it. You won't

get anything again for half an hour. They will manage to get a bottle.

One of the most dangerous points in the race, the chance of collision or

running over a stray bottle quite high. Dvorak of the USA leading on

the lower slopes of the climb. Third time of five up this climb. Let's

see if it starts to whittle the field down a bit more on this third

lap. Are she was struggling on the previous climb. That might have been

because she put in a big tint on the front. Two Australians are near the

front, Taylor and Gillow. It will be interesting to see if she gives

everything she has left now on this lap and then she won't be worried

about getting dropped. She need to get the last bit out of her for her

team-mates. Gillow looked like she was riding through treacle. What did

you say before? She dagged out of the back, a bit of Australian slang.

We learned something. The orange Jersey, the Dutch rider

is Ellen Van Dijk. Two gold medals in her back pocket this week with

the team time trial last Sunday, when they ride with their sponsored

teams. The only World Championship event where they do that, slightly

confusingly. Then she won the women's individual time trial on

Tuesday afternoon. The great way to start the last race being a double

Gold Medallist. You have nothing to lose at all. Amazing. We've seen the

remains of the peloton come through. With Harris and Colclough there.

Their day will be done. Unless they're on the World Championships,

they will be pulled out. They're probably six minutes behind, at

least already. It will be interesting to know what the

feelings are of Colclough, being her lot race -- last race. She won a

World Championship days ago, now she's wondering should she continue?

Pull out and call it a day? This will be an emotional day for her.

Possibly not the waif she would have wanted to finish, with the pace set

by the American team on the first lap of the circuit, dictated to a

lot of the peloton that they weren't going to see nymph this circuit at

the -- see any more of the circuit on the front end. Once again the USA

setting the pace on the climb. This is a familiar feature. Will it have

the effect they desire. One of the thicks I'm -- things I'm

going to ask Brian Cookson if he can deliver in his presidency, numbers

on helmets. In the days now that everybody is wearing often identical

kit, almost always sun glasses, it would be so helpful to the fans at

home, and not least us, if they had a small number on the front of the

helmet. There was a certain similarity with so many riders

wearing similar sun glasses and crash helmets. It could be an

interesting concept to give a number to a rider for the whole season.

That number is that rider. That happens in BMX. Yes, you keep your

number for the full year. We'll have to call Brian Cookson

later. We have have so much. We've done so much work for him while

we've been here. here. Ive imagine how many people are giving him

advice now on things he can do in his position. Probably hills head is

about to -- his head is about to explode. I'm sure he's driving on

that responsibility, making a list of priorities. Fortunately for us,

women's cycling is high on the list. We're excited about seeing what

happens over the next four years. His life has changed rather

dramatically today as the president of the UCI. One or two issues to

deal with. These Americans are taking control

of the race. Abbott is the person they're riding for in particular.

This group seems to be stuck around the same number now. Everyone seems

to be pretty much capable of staying in there. We're not seeing any big

attrition now. We're left with the elite riders in the field. I suppose

half of them just wondering when Marianne Vos will decide to make a

move. We saw last year that a move went

away that she wasn't in. They let that go. There was another Dutch

rider in that break. Marianne Vos waited for her moment to go across.

There were prediction that's would happen here. The Americans have kept

the pace so high that's not been possible. Van der Breggen Honourable

Friended up with fifth place last year. It was good to see Marianne

Friended up with fifth place last Vos claim the world title for the

second time, in front of a home crowd. I the scream of delight as

she crossed the line was different to the cry of agony, that I'll never

forget, when she finished second for the fifth year running, she was

banging her handle bars with frustration. Another rider in the

peloton if experiencing those same frustration. Another rider in the

his top priorities to support frustration. Another rider in the

How difficult will it have been to pick herself up ahead of the road

race after something like that? She had really targeted that individual

time trial. A little attack here. Nelson McCausland. It's splitting

the group actually. Their riders cannot follow the wheels here.

Emma Johansson is there as well from Sweden. Vos catching up.

They were expecting this lap to be a steady tempo. It was a very strong

attack. Carley responds to it here, the Australian in second place,

closing the gap. Sheaves on a good day today, she's climbing -- she's

on a good day today, climbing extremely well.

Gaps still behind on the climb. Of course, straight into that descent.

If there's somebody who wants to take it on, then this -- they could

make a small gap stick. She's done damage to her own team as well.

The Italians have Bronzini in the bunch who is known to be a sprinter.

It's Caus -- Cauz piling it on. Maybe she's been given a mandate to

make the climb hard. Vos is still there, fifth or sixth. Not doing a

lot of damage now. Everybody is ready for the attacks. I suspect

slightly weaker now as well. Italy in the blue jerzies with the

white shoulders, can you see most of their team in the first dozen

riders. It will be interesting to know if the command from Giorgia

Bronzini was - I'm feeling good, make it hard or I'm not feeling

good, make your own way. way. Ive might be the former.

We're looking at Valentina Scandolar.

She's decided that they want to keep the pace high.

She's pushing hard before the crest, nipping through the square.

Scandolar and team-mates finished outside the medal last week, fifth,

on the opening day of these championships.

Another attack from Italy. Again, it is the same rider.

There's a lot of passion in there, but now everybody is not being taken

There's a lot of passion in there, by surprise, it's not doing an awful

lot of damage, is it? As I say that, everybody decides to let her go.

That's possibly because they've experienced that this is a powerful

attack, but not sustainable. So they've let it go. They believe that

it will possibly come back. The two of them, because they are

approaching the summit, if they can crest the summit together, again,

great for Marianne Vos, because she doesn't have to do any chasing.

That's two of the strongest nations there.

Lizzie Armitstead to the right of your screen there. She looks very

comfortable. She does. She's sticking with the leading

contenders. That's the Australian Taylor,

closing that gap. She's sacrificing her race and riding 100% for her

team-mate Tiffany Cromwell. She had a nice win earlier in the season.

Then for the rest of the season she's been assisting Johansson in

her team. She's a lead rider for Australia, it

hasn't happened that many times this year, that she's been the lead

rider. Sheaves neatly tucked in behind Taylor -- she's neatly tucked

in behind Taylor. The technical descent starts beyond that left

turn. Brand leading over the top. We saw on the previous lap there were

attempts to it escape on the descent itself. They were affect e effective

at making small gaps. That might pb a pattern for the remaining laps of

this race. Brand, the national road champion of the Netherlands, leading

the way. I don't think they'll be having fun

at this point, the pain in the legs after the climb. But it was a fun

descent, when I did it. A lot of gaps developing. We have one rider

off the front. Is that Brand of the Netherlands? Chef was the rider who

led it over the -- she was the rider who led it over the summit. Yes, it

is. She's driving on now. Lucinda Brand from the Netherlands,

really piling it on. It's deceptive, these speeds. The gap in time is

quite small. It looks like a big gap, buff it's probably only two

seconds at the moment. She's got daylight. It's shaking it up behind.

She's had a strong season. She has had great results. She's a Dutch

national champion. She rides on the same professional team as Marianne

Vos. She deaf nitly have experience riding with each other. She's a huge

talent having won the national championship this year.

This is Tiffany Cromwell from Australia.

As Chris said before, she's a good Australia.

tactical rider. She will be enjoying that and putting the pressure on the

riders who are more nervous. Tiffany Cromwell closing right up on Lucinda

Brand. It's costing them a lot of effort on

the descent, that's the only thing. They go straight into the short

600-metre climb in a few moments. If they can get over that, suddenly,

it gets very dangerous. Are they going to cooperate? It certainly

looks like it. I'm sure she will be eager to put the pressure on. Look

at the gap! Taylor did a great job closing those gaps and Tiffany chose

her moment. She's gone on the attack. That's a dangerous attack to

have them in front. This is aye very, very exciting development here

in this women's road race. It's about five seconds at the moment.

Ratto of Italy is chasing. It's their responsibility to do all

the work now. Knew knew of Poe land as well.

-- knew It would be easy for this short gap

to be jumped across. If they can survive the climb, this would be

very dangerous. The motorbikes are giving us fantastic coverage of

race. But they are starting to interfere. The riders can draft

behind these motorbikes and it makes a significant difference. When the

gaps are just five and six seconds, you can see now, the shot we're

getting from the motorbike is helping the chase. I think they've

covered more or less 100 kilometres now. About 40 to go. The next time

check in the not too distant future. We are getting down towards the

business end of the race here. Extra fluid is taken on board by some of

the leading riders. They're not chasing, which is interesting to

see. That's a dangerous move on a circuit like this. They've decided

to not chase. I would have thought Italy would commit themselves to the

task here. It's their responsibility. They can't take

risks like this. We've got a shot, well, I thought that was number one

for a moment there. That Van Vleuten. Uals off the back? I think

she's just -- was she off the back? I think she's just rove joining the

group. Tiffany Cromwell is extremely switched on. Itch was speaking with

her father a few -- I was speaking with her father a few days ago. Shes

turned down a shopping trip. The first time in her life she's done

that. She's passionate about fashion. She has her own clothing

label. That is one of her passions. She's switched on and to sacrifice a

day shopping, that means it's all business for her. I don't think this

will succeed. I will have to stop talking about. It I feel the cameras

are interfearing here. The gap is probably only about two seconds now,

really coming down. Oh, and the first crash of the day. What a nasty

one as well, they head into the climb. The rider hit the deck there

is from Poland and she's causing a problem there can the Swiss rider.

Then Ellen Van Dijk of the Netherlands being held up by it

momentarily. I think this is one of the issues

that you can have. I mention carbon fibre wheels, they're lovely light

wheels and they're light where you want it to be, rotational weight,

but the braking performance is not as good as machined aluminium.

Sometimes you can just get a grab and if you're on the edge of

Sometimes you can just get a grab traction in the middle of a corner

Sometimes you can just get a grab and your wheel just grabs, it could

be enough to lose the wheel. A real indication of when a wall this climb

is. Giorgia Bronzini goes past Wilmahson is going backwards

is. Giorgia Bronzini goes past rapidly. Annemiek Van Vleuten goes

past her. Armitstead is about eighth at the momentment -- moment.

Brand is doing a good job at the front there. She's looking quite

Brand is doing a good job at the fresh. This is an opportunity to us

to look at how everybody is faring. Lizzie Armitstead is making her way

up this group as far as I can see. She's in great shape. Looking really

good now as they come towards the top of the climb. Armitstead right

in there with the leading riders there. But still we haven't seen any

activity in terms of animating the race from the Dutch team.

Absolutely. This might have been the moment for Marianne Vos to have an

attack given that Lucinda Brand got out there and made the others work

pretty hard to bridge the gap. This out there and made the others work

is the best, here we go, the Dutch are now starting to apply some

pressure. As they come to the top, it is the Netherlands hitting the

front for the very first time in the race. If it's anything like the

men's under 23 race yesterday, there will be attack after attack this

with Lucinda Brand leading the way and right on her wheel, Ratto from

Italy. The news with over two laps to go here, and inside the final 40

kilometres of this women's road race, World Championship, Great

Britain's Lizzie Armitstead is still among the leading 15 riders on the

road. Time to say goodbye now on BBC One.

But turn over to BBC Two for the