28/09/2013 Cycling

Welcome back to Florence for the road world Championships where the

women's road race is coming towards a dramatic conclusion and from a

British perspective it is good news with Lizzie Armitstead right in

contention. I will hand you straight over to our commentary team.

Welcome back. As you can see, 36.5 kilometres to go, the next time over

the line they will have two laps remaining, just to the north of the

centre of the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence, birthplace of the

Renaissance. We with the leading riders, Lucinda Brand from the

Netherlands. Their lead is slender. Such an exciting race. We have seen

the best of the best make it over the kinds, only about ten of them in

contention, extremely exciting. We always knew it would be a race

between the Italians and the Dutch. always knew it would be a race

What about Lizzie Armitstead from Great Britain? She has had a

phenomenal ride until now, no matter what happened she has put in a great

effort to still be there with two laps to go. Not a strong team this

year, for her, not a lot of support, but she has done a fantastic job and

in with a chance. A lot of riders still in with an opportunity. They

will have to get back on terms with these two, it is a dangerous

breakaway, 15 seconds, it is whether they actually survive, Brand looked

super strong in the last couple of laps. That 15 second gap, the

strongest nations, means the strongest people to chase have no

incentive to do so. I think also we really need to take this move from

Ratto seriously, she finished sixth in last year 's world championship

road race, she has the ability to be a factor at the end of this race

with just over two laps to go. She's definitely one of the strongest

riders, very young, her brother is also a cyclist, and her mother was,

runs in the family. She is a huge talent. She is only 19, what a

talent. To be at the head of affairs at this stage of the senior World

Championships race. We were talking at the start of the day about Rider

development, the men have quite a broad career spectrum, from late

teens into their 30s. The women tend to mature, come into the sport and

perform in a couple of years, and they can perform really well into

their late 30s. This is quite unusual, a talent like this, the

career ahead. -- a big career ahead. They have

committed to this, the two of them, no team tactics, we have been given

the opportunity to win this world title, we are going to take it, this

is the best chance. Fully committed, title, we are going to take it, this

not the case of it doesn't work out, we will do something else, they have

got to drive all the way. This is typical of all the races we have

seen so far, a couple of riders in the lead, not by very much, and

group of 15 who are within touching distance.

The Dutch, they like the situation because Marianne Vos likes to race

by herself, and she will still take the opportunity by the crimes to go

across by herself, to give the Dutch to people in the breakaway. She is

one of the very few riders that can do that, let the breakaway go and

then decide I want to go, off I go. There will almost certainly be

action on the next incline. At the moment there is a bridge above that

of the letter go further it will be very difficult to pull it back. At

the moment, a big drive on the next climb, it is possible. There is the

overall winner of the Tour of El Salvador this year. Over the line we

have our two leaders. This camera angle really shortens the gap, we

were given 15 seconds from the GPS difference, two it will still be

quite significant, it makes it look like they are almost on top of each

other, just eight camera trick. The Dutch national champion, Lucinda

Brand, and Ratto, the Italian leader, leading the way. They have

lost a significant amount of the advantage, they don't look quite as

committed as before. Perhaps they don't think it is going to work

either. 107 kilometres covered in this 140 kilometre race. Two and

three quarters hours in the saddle, two laps to go. Once again we can

see the USA team on the front, bringing it back, they have had a

fantastic race, very strong team. Looks like they are taking the

responsibility to pull this back. That means nothing with two laps to

go. There are a few riders in the Balaton Marianne Vos, and

Johannson, it Tiffany Cromwell, who have a little bit left. Just under

an hour of racing at their average speed, still a fair old distance to

go, just whether they can survive the next climb. By the looks on

their faces when they came through, they look more resigned to being

caught than thinking we are in with a chance. Great move though. It is

like a war of attrition, Lizzie Armitstead in the middle of that

chase group, just a few seconds Armitstead in the middle of that

behind the leading to riders. Here we are back with the leaders. Ratto

and brand. The question coming in from Andrew, we were talking about

the USA and how they try to take the race by the scruff of their neck and

affected the tempo, he says Carney UC the GB men using similar tactics

tomorrow -- can you see the GB men? They are pinning all the hopes on

Chris Froome. If it is going up hill he can spring, but on the circuit

this, he needs to get rid of those who operate on single days. His big

problem, even if they make the retired from the start, is Niboli.

They will have to make it hard from the start. That can do an awful lot

of damage to their 19. Chris Froome, if he was on top of his

form, it is not where it was earlier in the year, possibly, he has got an

extreme acceleration on the climbs, Via Salviati, are we being

optimistic? If you compare the tactics of the women's USA team to

the GB team tomorrow, it can be quite similar given Chris Chris

Froome and Abbott, both similar riders. And capable of setting high

tempos. They have got to just watch themselves on the climb. They need

to blow it apart, get rid of the quality of classic riders, an

incredible pace. It will take more than the British team to do that, it

will take the collaboration from several countries in a similar

position to do that kind of damage. If they wait until the last two or

three laps the motivation, proximity to the finish, means they will be

able to hang in there. We have got several other riders that could do

it. The Italians with a ride at the

front yet again. It happens so many times.

Here is the chasing group, the rider on the front of that is from the

United States, she has done a lot of work, right on her wheel is Kylie

Taylor from this trailer, Tiffany Cromwell is there too, and now Mara

Abbott is picking up the pace. This is the first time we have seen her

on the front. She is trying to lift the pace, short the gap between

herself and the leaders, without really doing too much damage to

herself. Lizzie Armitstead in fourth position there, looks to be working

hard but doesn't look like she is in position there, looks to be working

any trouble. That is what she should be doing, we should not be talking

about her, she should just be there or thereabouts watching the move

because she has got nobody else here, the gap is just eight seconds.

Totally able to bridge the gap, the last kilometre you will see some

attacks. This is her sort of territory.

Spoken a lot about Mara Abbott but this move may indicate she is

working for Stevens on very well behind Kylie Taylor, she is putting

a lot of effort into closing this, maybe Stevens is sitting there

comfortable. A fascinating story, a career in finance in New York which

she basically decided to walk away from to try her luck at cycling, and

she wasn't somebody who has grown up with cycling, it wasn't as if she

had raced throughout her school years and decided to make a go of

it, it was almost for nothing. That is almost a reason why riders are so

successful who come into the spotlight, they have got a career

behind them, life experiences, they don't fear giving everything to

cycling. She is one of those people that is driven, very successful at

anything she does. She also said what helped was the fact when she

started racing in Europe she didn't know who any of them were, none of

them on a pedestal, she had never know who any of them were, none of

heard of them. We were talking earlier about race radios and are

they allowed the World Championships is to Mark Murano race radios here.

That can affect the racing -- there are no race radios here. They cannot

get an instant idea of if they are moving away or the gap is being

held. It is a factor today, that communication, you have got to be at

the front watching what is happening to stop and acceleration that for

the German. Immediately marked by the

Netherlands. A concerted effort. Would you expect to see her perform

well on a circuit like this? Trixi Worrack is one of those riders who

can do anything and she puts her mind to it. She has a passing this

-- a classy list of results behind her. The gap with Lizzie Armitstead,

just one rider in front of her. The pace is really being pushed now. She

is certainly driving the pace, Trixi Worrack, she has either got her own

ambitions to split the field. There is Ratto, once again. She was just

at the front with Round but they have been joined by the other

leading contenders. Trixi Worrack one which German road race, 31 years

of age, at the top of her game, already one of World Championships

in the team time trial this week. Clearly a rider in form. There is

the winner of the Silver medal of the time trial. Van Dijk from the

Netherlands, never six from the Netherlands, one of two gold medals

already. The Russian team on the attack. The rider hitting the front

at the moment, Antoshina. She was one of the women's Tour of our

dash-macro. Brand is doing the chasing, every move now is a serious

one. This attack has come out of nowhere. She is a dangerous rider.

She was reactive the last time of the climb to Fiesole, she has still

got a bit left in the legs. She needed company before, she didn't

get it. If she can just bridge the gap and get onto the wheel, another

dangerous pairing, Italy again playing a fantastic team game, they

have monitored everything thus far. Founder Brogan, she was fifth last

year. This would be an ideal situation for the Dutch. A strong,

talented rider, this will give Marianne Vos the opportunity to go

across. Ratto involved in that, the rider hitting the front is Stevens,

in the USA, Antoshina is being left behind. That is your hands on in the

blue and yellow. Marianne Vos, for the first time we don't see Lizzie

Armitstead at this point being able to go with the leaders stop the

pressure has been on from the bottom. That has changed the

dynamics. Everybody has been able to sit in on the false flat and just

about hang in there over this either sections -- over the steeper

sections will stop Tiffany Cromwell, number 31 for Australia,

she is off the back. Lizzie Armitstead, further down the road,

it she is losing ground all the time, on this penultimate lap of the

circuit here. Tiffany Cromwell from Australia is trying to get across.

The pressure is being powered on at the front, Stevens is on her wheel.

This is where you need team-mates. If you have the team-mates who knows

and believes you can triumph in the Sprint later on, they will sacrifice

by sitting on the front and driving it. Rosella Ratto has the strength

to stay with the group. The estuary and in the white jersey digging in,

hanging in for all she is worth. Trying to stay in touch to maybe try

and read group at the other side. If anyone can get back, it will be

Tiffany Cromwell. She is a fighter. If she keep -- keep them close

enough she might be able to get back. The riders who have missed

this will find it very difficult. Italy have significant numbers

there. Linda Villumsen there, a little bit further down the climb.

She obviously has a bit of a second wind. She has a proven track record

in this World Championship race. She has got her work cut out there.

10-15 seconds of a gap. You were saying in the lead up to this race,

since the time trial, she had had a sore throat and was not feeling so

good. As we saw on the last lap, we thought she had called it a day. She

is fighting back now. She had a fantastic ride in France this year,

she decided she wanted it and she rode away from the peloton and won

the overall race. When she gets something in her mind she is very

capable of doing phenomenal things. Over three hours in the saddle now

for the riders in this women's Road race. Roughly 1.5 laps to go. The

next time check will be at the 113: Mud to mark. For the first time,

Lizzie Armitstead not up there among the leading contenders. Just having

been dropped on this climb, she is a little bit further back. We are not

quite sure how much further back. Everyone of them working hard now.

People are looking to get in control over the top for the descent.

Marianna Vos the defending champion, Stevens from the USA. This is an

elite group. As you say, this is a group who may well be away for the

day. It looks like this will be hard to pull back for any riders. An

interesting thing was the Americans, the race is in the hands of Stevens

now. Cromwell, 12 seconds adrift. If the pace does not let up on a

descent like this, it will be a tough gap to close. There is a group

led by Trixi Worrack. Lizzie Armitstead is 47 seconds off the

pace. 47 seconds down to the group containing Lizzie Armitstead from

the front of the race. There is Marianna Vos. The favourite is

there, Italy have got the numerical advantage. I just caught Rosella

Ratto looking over her left shoulder. That must make your heart

sink if Marianna Vos is there behind you. The Dutch team have decided

that there might only be two of us, but we are going to help with the

peacemaking and keep the pressure on. Perhaps. She sacrificed her pace

-- placed last year, it looks like she will set Marianna Vos up for

another World Championship. Stevens is another writer worth keeping an

eye on. Tiffany Cromwell was 12 seconds down over the top of the

climb. She is a Demon defender and she will need to be to bring herself

back into contention. She might have the opportunity, which we were

hoping for a Lizzie Armitstead, to attack later on. As the two main

nations are watching each other, you might be able to save -- steal a few

metres. This is just an amazing thing to see, the Italian team, how

they managed to have such a strong World Championships every year. To

have three riders in this break is pretty classy and probably predicted

because of their good track record of putting themselves in a strong

position. Tiffany Cromwell is back in that lead group. That was someone

going, a 12 second gap. She must descend like a stone. She certainly

does, she has no fear. She has stayed with me in the Dolomites, she

has really, really good skills. Tiffany Cromwell at her name to the

list at the front of the race. Stevens looks to be struggling on

the back there. There is a little gap between her and Tiffany

Cromwell. She might be relaxing a little bit or maybe did too much in

the climb. The bad news is Marianna Vos is not huffing and puffing at

all. I am just wondering if this group swelling by two has taken a

real desire to keep driving. We do not want to be towing everybody

along here. That was a bit of a half-hearted attack, wasn't it? The

Dutch cyclist has moved. She will be the team-mate of Marianna Vos next

year. The Russian rider is coming up to join the group. She started it

all off. Yes, she did and then she found herself surrounded by all of

the others. That is a serious attack now. It is Rosella Ratto. She has

still got enough in her legs to test everybody else once more. The

Italians need to do this, because if they go to the finish with Marianna

Vos, she is so much faster than anyone else in that lead one group.

Any nation would be hesitant to do that. The difficulty with not

attacking on a climb is it is so easy for people to stay in the

wheels and just follow and follow, expending very little energy. It is

tough to get away on any other part of the course. It is like a relay at

the moment with the Italians taking it in turn to force the pace.

Stevens is there in second place for the USA. Marianna Vos at the front

of the race for the first time today. Stephen is leading the way.

Johannson from Sweden looks particularly comfortable there as

well. She is outnumbered but looks comfortable. She has been

outnumbered all day. I think we might see the next selection here.

Everybody trying to nip off the front before the bottom of this

climb. With my track record that probably means they are all going to

stay together now and cruise over the top. This is going to be key,

one lap from now when they go up this wall. This grind of a climb.

A little bit further down we have got the German rider, she was the

German hope in this race. Working hard to try and get back on with

Linda Villumsen behind her. Linda has not put pressure on herself

today. If they get over this climb and the front bunch has a little bit

of a rest, she is capable of time trialling herself back onto that

bunch. She seems to struggle with that particular steep one. The

severity of this one. You can see she has been dropped here. Let's

have a look as they go through this latest time check.

Just over 20 kilometres to go. Another attack from the Italians.

That group is the remnants of the bunch and they do not think they are

going to make contact a game today. No, they are much further away. It

is too big a gap. They must be the best part of half a minute behind.

They were 28 seconds down a few moments ago. So, leading riders

Bozell Arata from Italy, Marianna Vos, Tiffany Cromwell from Australia

is just off the back. It could come back together if they continue to

ride like this. Nobody wants to do the pacemaking, do they? On the flat

roads, leaving themselves fatigued on the climb.

Quite an impressive ride by this Italian, she was in an horrific

accident in June. No one would have ever imagined she would be back in

the national team for this. She broke her pelvis, she had to learn

to walk again, she was in a wheelchair. Now she has got herself

in condition to be the amongst best in the world. That is an

extraordinary timescale. It is unbelievable to even see her on the

start line. And she is wearing number 13 today. Lucky number 13.

Let's hope it is for her. She is riding really strongly, one of a

couple of Italians in this leading group. Here we have our leading

riders. With roughly 22 kilometres to go. Lizzie Armitstead, by the

way, at the last time check 14th place on the road. She is in good

company. Certainly some strong names in the second group. We just got a

brief look there at Lizzie Armitstead. A good ride from herd to

be at the front of the race until the closing stages. Just over a lap

to go. It is all kicking off here with just over one lap to go. There

is Cromwell and she knows she is superior in the corners. Just over

the top that's -- small rise there are some sharp look right and left.

She sees her opportunity in the corner, she knows she is not the

biggest threat to Marianna Vos, so she has taken her chance there and

really put the pressure on. Stevens having to work hard out that corner.

Johannson from Sweden just in front of her, the world number one. It was

worth a Starbuck but it is not going to happen at the moment. Some very

experienced riders here and they are stamping on everything. -- it is

worth a go. She can fall back 13 or 14 seconds.

That is the elite group of riders that look set to contest. Looks like

the winner will come from this recovery. Lizzie Armitstead from

Great Britain, just slipping off the pace, still among the leading

riders, 14, wrote, -- 14th at the moment, she will struggled to get

back in contention. Marianne Vos is probably the most fresh air in the

bunch. They have got to do their best to shake her. They have got the

numerical advantage, got to start using it, forcing them to use their

firepower to do the chasing. It is hard because to follow on this to

rain is much easier -- to rain they haven't given up behind. That

is Villumsen and Haussler from Germany. It shortens the view,

riders have looked a lot closer than I actually are. Those leading riders

must look tantalisingly close to the chasers. Everybody is having

tactical conversations now. I don't think I would be letting the

Italians sit behind me, that is for sure. Tiffany, I'll -- Tiffany

Cromwell and Emma Johansson. The three Italians are trying to catch a

cunning plan to wrestle the world title away from the Dutch. And from

the big favourite, Marianne Vos, there she is on the right of your

picture. For people who don't regularly watching the cycle race

wondering why everybody has stopped racing, the climb is coming up, to

attack costs an awful lot of energy racing, the climb is coming up, to

and you are to close that even if you manage to get a gap you would

rapidly be overhauled because you would have fixed ended so much

energy to get in the gap, so they are all experienced riders and they

know it really would be a long shot to attack now, they have got to wait

for the climb. What the final lap this will be, Haussler, Villumsen,

they are gaining ground all the time while these tactical discussions are

going on. One lap to go, 16.5 kilometres in the world championship

road race, it is up for grabs. Van Der Breggen and Marianne Vos lead

them through, Johannson from Sweden, Stevens, the USA, Tiffany

Cromwell, Haussler and Antoshina and Villumsen are getting tantalisingly

close on the back. Anything can happen once you make contact. Only

one lap to go, 15: That is, I could dig deep and hang on -- 15 laps to

go. They are really closing in. When you look at this field you would

still have to say Marianne Vos is you look at this field you would

the favourite for the gold medal. She has been the favourite since

the favourite for the gold medal. this time last year. A phenomenal

the favourite for the gold medal. bike rider. Everybody has says on

any day she wants to win, no matter the tactics, the other team

strengths, if she wants to win and she is healthy she can pull off a

win. she is healthy she can pull off a

We down a riders also at the front -- we are down to eight riders also

at the front. How has this hand-out? I think this was expect the -- this

was what I was expecting. A very honest race. You see the strongest

riders get the results. Eight riders have become 11, Haussler, Antoshina

and Villumsen have joined them. We have a leading group of 11. We are

on the last lap of this women's road race. Last chance for a quick swig

of a drink. Interesting to see what tactics the Italians have come up

with, a good chat going through the finish about what they will do and

how they will try to beat Marianne finish about what they will do and

Vos but she will also the confident she has Anna Van Der Breggen who put

her in a winning position and sacrificed her race last year. She

will be willing to do that again knowing she is riding for one of the

best riders in the world, or the best rider in the world. For casual

viewers who are not cycling fans Marianne Vos is a superstar of world

cycling. She was second on each of the five years preceding last year,

but one last year. She has won almost everything you can think of,

cyclo-cross, track racing, road racing on the Olympic Games, the

lot. Not much she has one. Also for the viewers who don't watch

cycling so often, Emma Johansson, she has become number one for the

first time someone other than Marianne Vos has taken number one in

six years. She has been very consistent, but she will definitely

need to do something before the finish if she wants to beat Marianne

Vos. Marianne Vos has been having another

go at mountain biking. She has spoken out about wanting to compete

at Rio in the mountain biking discipline, so many opportunities,

track, mountain bike, cycle, -- cycle Cross, road racing, she can do

it all. The storm. -- the calm before the storm. They are summoning

all their final reserves of energy for one last big push on this last

lap. A little look back there from Tatiana Guderzo. She will be having

a conversation with her team car, her coach, about the X and

double-checking they will be doing the Rhine right thing. So much

experience. Bronzini who we thought might be the key player for Italy

hasn't approved to be the case, but three of 13 or in this leading

group, the leading group of 11. -- three of their team. Still Van Der

Breggen, and Marianne Vos leading the way. Boss on the right-hand

side. -- Marianne Vos on the right-hand side. There is Villumsen,

the number 90 on her back. She has had an impressive right given she

has been unwell since she won a silver medal a few days ago. She was

very unsure whether to start. She only made the decision this morning

she would go to the start line and she is in the final selection here.

She has probably exceeded her own expectations. She certainly made the

right decision. Tiffany Cromwell still involved. Emma Johansson from

Sweden. Italy with the numerical advantage. The Netherlands with two

riders including the favourite. Antoshina from Russia having joined

his leading group just a few moments ago leading the way at the moment.

Claudia Hausler from Germany, it she is appearing at the front for the

first time. She could go on the attack on this longer climb. Even on

the attack on this longer climb. Even on that stage but short climb

she is a very good climber. The big hope today, interesting how riders

can get dropped early and make their way back. 14 kilometres to go in

this women's road race will stop -- road race. There we are seeing

Tatiana Guderzo, back among the team cars. Ishiguro rack for advice or

has she called it a day? Maybe she is just double-checking something.

Here she is, back on the leading group. A lot of discussion going on,

could be tricky when there is strength in the team, who is going

to be leader or who sacrifices for who? I think they have the

experience, they will sacrifice for each other, given their track record

they believe in each other and they would be happy to see any of the

Italian riders when. Guderzo is the one with the real experience, 29

years of age. Second in the generated earlier this year. --

Giro.. It has suddenly become very

tactical. When you look on the road you can see they are going up this

crime more slowly than they have been throughout the afternoon. You

would think with three Italian the pace would be on and it would be

attack after attack after attack. We know they don't want to go to the

finish with Marianne Vos, but she could also be in danger, one of the

riders needs to be able to go with her. Everybody is looking at

Marianne Vos. Villumsen from New Zealand in their up among the

leading riders. It looks as if the two chases might get in there,

Guderzo, still bringing up the rear. Here we go. Antoshina, Guderzo

launches the counterattack for Italy. The race is really on here on

this last lap. The former world champion Guderzo, look who is

straight on her wheel, Marianne Vos. Can Marianne Vos follow all of the

attacks from the Italians, issue strong enough to outright three of

the Italians? -- issue strong enough to outright. It is drafting to

string out a little bit. -- starting to. Evie Stevens from the USA, we

haven't mentioned her for ten minutes also, she is still in there,

the Italians with longer Borghini. This is what the Italians need to

do, Borghini looks strong. She has not done a great deal in this race,

she will use everything she has got. The race is really hotting up as the

calamitous click by. -- as the kilometres. The ship being put on by

Borghini from Italy, Van Der Breggen from Netherlands on her wheel.

Stevens is getting up on your hands on's wheel. Is this Tiffany

Cromwell? Yes, Tiffany Cromwell having a go. Gutsy ride from

Cromwell. She was off the back last time they went up this crime but she

descended so quickly. That was a good move, she never gives up, just

keeps going and going. The style of bread ever comes out on top. --

rider that comes out on top. The little gap opened up. This is a

great demonstration of how women's racing can be. We saw in London

Lizzie Armitstead against Marianne Vos. We have got the opportunity to

watch another world-class women's by grace. -- like race. -- bike race.

Cromwell realising the particular attack wasn't quite going to have

the desired effect but it may have weakened the opposition. Claudia

Hausler from Germany, just struggling to hold the wheels. The

two Russian riders also at the back, Antoshina. What a titanic struggle

for the medals this will be as they come up towards Fiesole. Another

attack, Guderzo. Marianne Vos straight on her wheels, second time.

The last time the desert had a little go she was straight on her

wheel. -- Guderzo. She would sense she is one of the main dangers, if

she had to cover one of the Italians that would be the one. The

difficulty could come when the Italians counter attack with the

other riders. She is strong enough to cover everyone. She is once again

the strongest rider in the race. Look at the painful Claudia Hausler,

it she is struggling to hang on to that group. They are disappearing

into the distance, having worked so hard to be joined the leading group.

They find they were only with them for a matter of minutes. Marianne

Vos looking over her shoulder, right on her wheel is Rozelle Ratto. Looks

like we have lost Tiffany Cromwell again, interesting to see if she can

claw away back on the descent. Marianne Vos countered that attack

just as it was starting. She was already countering it as the

Italians started to dig in. It is a very big part of the mental game.

She is on everything. In the end her opponents may give up. It is asking

a lot from Tiffany Cromwell to dig deep and sprint at the end of the

race. She is the type of rider, if she makes contact she will keep

going. Here is Stevens on the attack. She is at the front for the

first time a while. The Americans road at high tempo on this climb,

they got rid of half of the field in one swoop. Will it pay off finally,

they got rid of half of the field in at the end of the day? That is

certainly a strong move by Stevens. You can see only the two Dutch have

been able to move with her and one Italian. That puts the Dutch in a

stronger position. She had just about lost contact when Stevens made

her attack there, but straightaway Marianne Vos was alert to what was

going on. Her team-mate is there to support her. And now we see Linda

Villumsen coming back again. Linda Villumsen keeps looking as though

she's being dropped, but she keeps loitering around the back of that

group, she is still there. She is one of those type of riders that

will keep going and going. She is a phenomenal time trial rider. Van Der

Breggan on the attack. Marianne Vos in third, Johannson looks dangerous

in fourth. She has never missed a trick without doing any work at the

front. It is an amazing she is still there. She has follows the right

moves and has used the minimum amount of energy to cover these

moves and still be there. She is playing a very smart race, that is

what she is good at. Stevens has just regrouped, having launched an

attack on a couple of minutes ago. She is on the front once again. Just

over ten kilometres to go. One of these riders is set to become the

world champion. Stevens, Johannson, Van Der Breggan and Marianne Vos are

there. Linda Villumsen is also a very good

defender, it will be interesting to see if she can pull back 15 seconds.

Rosella Ratto leading the way. Stephen 's first over from the USA,

Marianne Vos second. Roselle Arata know from Italy, Van Der Breggan

from the Netherlands. The first of the chasers are at 15 seconds. Four

riders at the front of the race. Five on the front of the race.

Five leading the way. Three at seconds. Tiffany Cromwell losing a

lot of ground, 40 seconds back. This is very much looking like

another Marianne Vos championship. She is capable of covering

everything, she must be feeling confident at this point. You would

think so. And yet again, Van Der Breggan has proved an invaluable

team-mate. Guderzo is descending very rapidly here in the chase.

There is Stevens bringing up the rear of the leading group. We have

still got the one final climb, potentially the decisive moment of

the race with 8.4 kilometres to go. Not that long at 600 metres, but

what a strength supper. It is a very steep climb, it would be interesting

to know which gears the girls are using. Obviously they would like to

have the 11 for the descent. Possibly 25 for the steep climb.

It looks like Marianne Vos is applying a little bit of pressure on

the descent. She is a very technically good rider, it would be

easy for her to go down this descent and relax at the same time. Just the

one real obstacle. Rosella Ratto leading the way for

Italy, number 14. Marianne Vos coming to the head of affairs.

Johannson in third place. A little check to see which of the rivals

remain. Not very many, is the answer. The second group

remain. Not very many, is the to close it in so they have the

number is therefore the Italian team. They are not giving up. It

does look as if they are going to get back on, how long it will last,

I am not sure. The final climb is not very far away now. These three

riders have to work particularly hard to get back on. The moment they

get back on, that steep climb is going to come. They are not the

strongest of the leading group, it will be difficult for them to keep

that gap after the last steep climb. What a finish we are going to have

here. Full coverage tomorrow for the men's race. Chris Froome leading the

British challenge in that one. Bradley Wiggins racing and Mark

Cavendish also taking the start line. This is not a course suited to

Mark Cavendish. The British team putting all their efforts behind

Chris Froome. Before that, we have got the finish of this women's elite

race. The three chasers look as though they are about to get back

on. Linda Villumsen having a final

drink. Guderzo makes the connection and

they join Stevens and the others at the front. The Italians are putting

pressure on the Dutch. Now the Italians with three at the front,

the right-hand turn leads to the 600 metre climb. And the race is very

much on the line, who have got the legs? Who can dig the deepest and

open up a lead here? Van Der Breggan in the lead here. Stevens moves on

to the right-hand side of the road. This is pretty much Stevens last

chance. She knows if she goes to the finish with Marianne Vos, there is

no chance, so she is putting in a last effort. Marianne Vos looks the

most comfortable of all these riders. Those three chasers who did

all that work to get on the back did so in precisely the wrong moment.

Marianne Vos makes her move for glory. This is the decisive point of

the race. This is where the best female cyclist in the world is

making her bid for a third world title. She leaves everyone in her

tracks. It is unbelievable to see her do this time and time again.

Everybody knows it is coming, but there is nothing they can do. Once

they get over the top, Johannson will have to work with her team-mate

to pull back Marianne Vos. It is very unlikely. Marianne Vos has made

the move that everyone has been waiting for throughout the day. She

is the overwhelming favourite for this race and in the closing

minutes, with just over five kilometres to go, Marianne Vos is

trying to win her third road title. kilometres to go, Marianne Vos is

A little bit further down Linda Villumsen bringing up the three

chasers. There is no way they will get back to contest the finish year.

It is a time trial now for Marianne Vos. Whether Johannson can work hard

with 13 mate, even if they do, I am not sure they will see Marianne Vos

again until after the finish. That is right. She has got that extra

little bit of speed in the sprint which would make it hard for anyone

to beat her from this point on. Supremely talented bike rider and in

all disciplines of cycling. She is brilliant at all of them. A very

special athlete. That is Johannson of Sweden in second place. Roselle

Arata know, I think we will be seeing a lot more of her in the

Arata know, I think we will be years to come. -- Roselle Ratho. It

looks like the gap is closing in a little bit. They may have just put

100% effort in there. They are both giving 100% trying to get back with

Marianne Vos. We still have a cliffhanging finish in this race.

She has just got one minor in Klein to negotiate. But the chase is on

for Johannson and Roselle rat over. She is definitely giving it

everything she has now. She has a phenomenal turn of speed. A sprinter

like Marianne Vos can sprint no matter how tired they are. It is not

a big gap. Marianne Vos is laying it matter how tired they are. It is not

all out there on the road. She is burying herself in pursuit of

victory. Johannson wants to win. She is waiting for Marianne Vos's

mistake. They will have to give 100% and a little bit more to relearn

Marianne Vos. What a race in the closing moments of this women's

race. Marianne Vos leading the way and being chased all the way up the

street by Johannson. And by Ratto, one of the talented young Italian

riders. It would be very satisfying for Marianne Vos to finish the

season on top again. Johannson has to do a lot of work here, it seems

that Ratto is just sitting on her wheel. Two kilometres to go. The

last two kilometres of this road race. Marianne Vos who won the road

race a year ago on The Mall, looking set fair for another gold medal to

race a year ago on The Mall, looking add to her extensive collection.

Here are the two chasers. The only two that could possibly deny her.

And there is the gap. It is going to be hard for them to close. There

will be a point where these two chasers decide whether they will

race for second. It looks like they are going to race for second at the

moment. The rest of the route is not technical at all. A long, straight

run into the finish. Towards the football stadium, and there is the

view. It means they can see Marianne Vos the hallway up the finishing

straight. I cannot imagine they have that extra cull mutters per hour to

catch Marianne Vos. It will be an impossible task for these two to

follow back. If there is one person you do not want to be chasing

towards the end of a raised it is Marianne Vos. A little anxious look

behind. One kilometre to go for the Olympic champion.

Doesn't look that Johannson is getting any help.

She is not getting any help from Ratto. It looks as if Johannson is

going to bring the Italian up towards a silver medal. There will

be a moment when they decide they'll be single second. Johannson realised

she wasn't going to catch Marianne Vos and they will just play the

tactical last game for the minor medals. Here is a golden goal of

world cycling, she left it late, she can afford to leave it late, she is

the best rider and she will be the world champion again for the third

time in her career, three world titles, five times a silver

medallist in this race, winner of many other gold medals in cycling,

the Olympic champion is the world many other gold medals in cycling,

champion again. The favourite brings home the gold medal for the

Netherlands, and she has the time to celebrate. Marianne Vos ensures this

race goes to form and she is the number one, Olympic champion and

world champion for another year. The silver medal is being fought out by

Emma Johansson and Rozelle Ratto. Johannson who lead the chase all the

way up the finishing straight claims the silver medal, that is her best

ever finish in the World Championships, silver for Sweden,

and a bronze for the hosts, Italy. You can see how emotional it is for

Marianne Vos, that shows how much work she puts into it, she has two

work as much as anybody else and you can see that come out with the

emotion. Here is Van Der Breggen, never the line in fourth. What a job

she did, the celebrations can start now, important to reiterate, as Evie

Stevens crosses the line and the limbs and, -- Villumsen, for all

that Marianne Vos is the favourite, that brings its own pressures, you

still have to go out there and deliver, when you know everybody is

looking at you, you the mark to person. All the fans and followers

and all the general public will be thinking and expecting her to win,

but she knows she had to do the hard work to bring this home, it doesn't

come easy. The look on her face told us that. She definitely works very

hard, one of the most professional athletes, genuinely a really nice

person, loved by her team-mates, the pellet on, an inspiration to women

in general. -- Balaton. She will be the greatest female

cyclist who has ever lived, a very special talent. There is

confirmation of the result. Marianne Vos, for the second year running, is

the world champion. Emma Johansson with the silver medal, Rozelle Ratto

with the bronze. Lizzie Armitstead was very much a factor in this

race, until losing out in the closing stages, being dropped along

the way, it is Marianne Vos's day, it she is the world champion once

again . What a race it was. Let's first of all paid tribute to the

again . What a race it was. Let's organisers in Tuscany. Creating a

cause which gives you a race like that. We watched it -- we saw it in

the last couple of days and thought that would be perfect, summoning

opportunities to attack, you wonder when to start on the circuit, a

possession, and the Americans just let it up and it was a great race to

watch. The Italians, as we always expect, or right in there. That

watch. The Italians, as we always lovely moment, I think, on the start

of the final lap when they were all chatting, a lap before that she was

chatting with Van Der Breggen, the three Italians were together, they

were all plotting. They were all trying to work out how to do it, the

Italians had numerical advantage. They got it down to just one Italian

left and that swung the other way. If the three of them had got over

the top and been able to attack on the descent it would have been

difficult for the Dutch to keep a lid on but it came down to that 600

metres. We talked about the Via Salviati, the steepest point in the

client at Marianne Vos just had a little look. They were down to about

12, Des Browne. She wasn't having it all thrown away, she just about

scraped enough of a gap, four seconds, to make it worthwhile

persevering. Just talking about what a great job the organisers have done

with his course, to give such an exciting race. It was absolutely

phenomenal, the excitement in the last few laps was believable, all

the best riders were there. The course here in Italy, Tuscany, has

brought out the best bike riders on the day. In terms of the way the

Italians were together, was appointment they looked incredibly

dangerous, when I had the three riders. Marianne Vos had three tea

team-mates, and there were three Italians. The Italians did

everything they could but they were up against a rider who can nearly

win in any situation. When she made that attack on

Fiesole, that probably broke the Italian team plan. Evie Stevens had

a phenomenal ride as well, she had to do that, take a chance on the

hill she came to finish, she is not the fastest of sprinters, a really

big last effort, and as we saw, Ratto was with Johannson but not

doing turns. We saw the results, with Marianne Vos winning, Johannson

second, Ratto third, a really honest race out there today.

We will reflect on the British performance, Lizzie Armitstead got

lost on the penultimate climb, Katie Colclough, her last race as a

professional edges because afterwards.

We predicted this would be a hard race and approved is right.

Definitely, we definitely expected hard. The first part was pretty calm

and controlled but everybody was waiting for that Hill and it wasn't

even on the help, it was five metres out, everybody going crazy, just

flat-out first lap, really hard. Really aggressive race, the

Americans that put the hammer down and sprinted the group. I had a

suspicion the Americans might go with that kind of approach and they

have got attacking riders and good climbers and they were to be working

Marianne Vos much as possible. I know this possibly wasn't the way

you wanted to end your professional cycling career, we know you have

told us this is your last race, how are you feeling was to mark -- how

are you feeling? I feel a bit distant point did,

didn't contribute that much but did all I could, it wasn't the perfect

course for me, and I know I did what I could and didn't waste any

opportunities. Time to move on. Still filling happy. The emotions

right now, a lot of change in the next few months. A well earned

break. Definitely, a few short holidays planned and a trip to New

York to do some charity work, some time to think and find myself. Great

to see you on the road. We have just seen Lizzie Armitstead

go past, 19th place, five minutes 22 seconds down. We knew it was a big

ask on a course like this. Not been a fantastic year after the Olympic

Games. But on great form. If you don't make the wheels of the front

group the gaps open quickly. On a single day race there is no stage

tomorrow, there's no point in keeping driving and driving just to

tomorrow, there's no point in finish slightly closer. It is not

too surprising, the. -- the gaps. If you are a little bit

of it is very hard. She made a big peak in her four-year cycle for the

silver medal that she won in London, and after an Olympic year it is very

difficult. She had a fantastic win in the national championship to be

representing the national jersey, but today I don't think she was at

her best. She did put in a strong performance. She didn't have the

strongest of teams out there. Let's come back to Marianne Vos. Try and

put in context just how good a bike ride it she is? It is breathtaking

what she has one, though perhaps isn't a rider like in the world,

male or female. She has one World Championships across different

disciplines. This year she made mountain biking her priority so she

didn't raise as much on the road but still came in as favourite. The

inspirational thing is you saw the motion when she crossed the line

which proves she has had to work hard, she is naturally talented but

she must be well balanced across all aspects of being a professional

athlete. How difficult is it to go across disciplines like that? You

focus on the road, you didn't do any mountain biking, cyclo-cross. If you

get somebody who is talented, they have a broader field of

possibilities, but it takes a lot to be that good at something, and then

say I am going to try mountain biking which is a different thing.

You slide a tiny bit and you you end up on the floor in road biking, and

I think she just needs some new challenges. We talked about the

motion, even after ceremony years, it still means as much to her --

motion, even after ceremony years, after so many years. She has talked

about Rio and mountain biking. She is probably looking for new

challenges. It is a very difficult thing to copper hair and how you can

win ceremony races but still be so emotional about them, so driven,

cash win so many races. She appreciates every single victory.

And Borghini, the Italian, remind us what she went through. In June she

was riding in the national Italian championship and have a horrific

accident on a decent ad broker pelvis, she was a wheelchair, she

has come back already in September to line up at the World

Championships which was unexpected she could make it back that quickly,

but to be amongst the best in the finish was unbelievable. Wonderful

women's race, cast our minds forward to tomorrow. The men's race. Chris

Froome there, in amongst the favourites. From what you love scene

of the women's race and the other road races, what sort of rider will

it suit? It looks like it will be a classic style rider will stop there

have been more patient -- more people at play in the end than I

have thought. It is ten laps. The specialist climbers, this room, they

will make it hard from the word go -- Chris Froome. They have do

isolate the classic specialist. It will come down to Rodriguez, the

people really punchy, and just about get over the plans but Bob is good

people really punchy, and just about but those goods with as well. Such a

long race, 6000 feet in climbing, enormously tough. Thank you very

much. It has been a wonderful day, back again tomorrow for that men's

race. 9am online and from 1230 p.m. On the red button, BBC Two for the

sharp end of the race, a fantastic circuit here. Chris Froome, Bradley

Wiggins. Much of the day to night, 10:30pm on BBC One -- Mac of the day

for the -- match of the day. Immediately following that is the

who would have thought five years ago we would have a British team

with two Tour de France winners in it, Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins

working together, will they bring home the river journey? We will find

out tomorrow. -- rainbow jersey.