27/09/2014 Cycling

Lizzie Armitt said is going to take the gold medal. Nobody within sight.

Mark Cavendish is champion of the world. Bradley Wiggins powers

towards the line. Chris Froome is the champion of this 100th to a

difference. -- to a the castle of the Knights Templar

here in north-west Spain. The Knights took possession of this to

protect pilgrims on the road to Santiago to Compostela. The pilgrims

still come, the Knights have long since gone. Until this week. So

Bradley Wiggins, can he add the world time trial title to his

mightily impressive record? Tony Martin going for a fourth world

title in a row. It is going to be the fastest four seconds. Martin

leading the way, Wiggins usually so good at measuring his effort.

Feeling the heat. Martin 2.5 seconds slower than Bradley Wiggins. His

back is against the wall now. Wiggins is going to have to produce

the descent of his life here. This is going to be the fastest time,

will it be a gold? Here comes Tony Martin. He is not going to do it.

Bradley Wiggins is the world champion. Good afternoon from

Ponferrada. Bradley Wiggins already set that record. Extended highlights

coming later on after the main event, the women's road race. We

will focus on the women's road race first, a comment on Bradley's

performance on Wednesday. For me it was an amazing ride. There has been

talk about his form this year. To say, yes, I still have got it. It

was a fantastic ride. To put Tony Martin to bed way he did. He did not

just win the world time trial, he beat Tony Martin, who was on form.

Certainly mission accomplished by Bradley Wiggins. In great form. A

knight in shining armour, there is always a damsel in distress. We have

a damsel in the women's road race, she is not in distress though.

Armitstead now putting in the full gas. The British champion wins. That

was a stunning display. The World Cup leader, Lizzie Armitstead hits

the front. It will be a drag race to the end. Lizzie Armitstead is the

winner of the women's World Cup, there she is in the jersey she has

worn all season. She will not be denied here in Glasgow, it is gold

for Lizzie Armitstead, gold for England in the women's road race.

Lizzie Armitstead our big hope for gold here in Ponferrada. It has been

a coming of age for her this year. Absolutely, she ticked off the boxes

this year, started the season strong and a lot of people thought wow. She

has been on form. Very confident. To win the Commonwealth Games this year

is another thing she has under her belt. She is informed to do it this

year. That Commonwealth title you sense meant a huge amount to Lizzie.

I think the Commonwealth Games means an awful lot to all of the riders

there. It was a world-class field, she showed everybody a clean pair of

heels. She gave her team-mates the confidence in her to go for that one

goal. Talking about confidence, she often seems timid. We have seen a

different Lizzie, her interviews before were almost bullish about her

chances. Why not? She has won the races she targeted with fine form

and confidence. She looks fantastic, every time she goes out there she

knows she has done the work. She is able to have confidence that she is

ready for it. Does it worry you that she has been quite so vocal about

her chances? No, bring it on. I think so. It is a good sign.

Possibly what has given her more confidence is the fact that Voss is

not coming into this race 100%. She is still the favourite. She does not

need to be because she has so much in hand, but it will give her and

some other riders some confidence for getting on top spot today. In

cycling you have to have a great team behind you. Let's hear from the

British team. I would like to be world champion, it is the first year

where I can come to a prerace interview and say that with some

genuinely believe in it. It is a real traditional time --

transitional time, what is the feeling? It is really nice at the

moment because there are lots of developing riders coming through. It

is a really good opportunity for the younger girls to experience the

elite women's World Championships. What about the team British cycling

has put around you? I am really happy that Hannah Barnes and Lucy

Garner are here to support me like in the Commonwealth Games, I really

trust them. The team mountain bikers are the best in the world at what

they do, no reason why they should not have an impact on the road. The

reason they have mountain bikers in this road race is because the course

is hilly, there is a technical percent. The course will be suited

to the mountain bike style. Lizzie, the goal is to get her at the front.

It will be either going with things early on or protecting the race

later on if Lizzie is out in front. This year going to the Commonwealth

Games and this, it feels I am developing and they are noticing. I

am looking forward to proving I am worth a spot. Hannah Barnes chasing

her down. What is your main role? Trying to get the early breaks.

Hopefully it will be similar to the Commonwealth Games where we control

it and Lizzie goes away with the group. For me it will be trying to

chase down attacks, hopefully surviving the climate, it is a very

tough course like last year. Not as tough, but still a really hard race.

I hope I can survive and help out as much as I can. What is the plan for

Lizzie? This course has Lizzie written all over it. She is in good

form and I think she can really go for the win here. It is a relentless

course, that is what Suits Me, repeated efforts with minimal

recovery is what Suits Me and what I will try to benefit from. When I

look around the competition I don't believe there is anybody that should

be able to drop me on this course, I should make it to the finish with a

select group. The winner, the golden girl of world cycling, Marianne Voss

from the Netherlands. She is always someone to beat at the World

Championships, she is definitely not as good as she normally is. I think

I have the opportunity to become world champion, if I don't, I will

be disappointed, but it is the best chance I have ever had. Lucy Garner

and Hannah Barnes part of that Commonwealth winning team. Noel Emma

Pooley, though. Lizzie Roper at Hannah Barnes and Lucy Garner at the

Commonwealth Games, had them right at her side. -- Lizzie road with. A

couple of mountain bikers in there. Controversially. I think they will

be enjoying this. When she saw the dissent in training, everybody said

it was technical, she said there are no rocks, no trees, nothing in her

way, it will not faze her, she will be able to go up the climb. Distance

may play a part, mountain biking is a short event, but much sharper,

higher effort. She fully deserves her place. There has been some

criticism of their selection, given they are not experienced on the

road. There has been, of course, but Lizzie Armitstead has come into this

with confidence she can win, she will have had input into the team.

It is down to what support she feels she needs. They seem to be very

confident about that course, something that will suit Lizzie. She

says the fact it is a relentless. The climbs on their own are not

particularly tough, it is the fact they come lap after lap and there is

a lot of chasing in between. Chasing is key. If she likes the course,

likes the weather, it is good. We will talk about the contenders,

already drama on the course, the race started at 2pm British time. We

can bring you up-to-date with a very dramatic start to the race. Big, big

crash year, a lot of riders going down and had a lot of riders going

down underground here. A very sizeable proportion of the peloton

down, some of them have clearly fallen extremely heavily here. A

couple of the American riders down, I can see 23 there, Taylor of the

United States. 110, who was 12th in the time trial. This looks very

nasty for a couple of the riders, one of the Americans in real

trouble, it seems. Canada with two riders on the floor, at least half

of their team. What an enormous crash that is. Heating

oh my goodness. What an awful crash for so many riders in the race.

Let's hope it is not as serious as it looks potentially for one or two

of them. None of the riders from New Zealand, not sure who that was,

catapulted down the centre of the road. I think that rider was

potentially from New Zealand. Confirmation of some of those who

have fallen. There is an American ride on the far side of the road who

looks as though she has a real problem. We hope that is not as

serious as it looks. We have seen some tumble so far in pond for RADA,

but nothing to compare, that was a horror. Very, very frightening to

see. -- so far in pond for Voss came down hard. Both are back

in the peloton now, but something like that, what will it do to them?

What has it taken out of them? I imagine the riders upfront would

have neutralised the race to a certain extent, road tempo, when the

Italian game through she was on her own behind the car and a lot further

back. It is good that those two are back in the peloton, but how much

has it taken out of them? What does Lizzie do? She has come through

that, she knows that Georgie and Voss have come down, how does it

play into her tactics? It will add to her confidence. She lost a

team-mate in Lucy Garner. Lizzie will have taken confidence to see

the race had to be neutralised for Voss to come back. She knows it

takes a lot out of the legs for them to do that and mentally as well.

Lizzie will be feeling very confident. As you mentioned,

Marianne has had problems this week, she pulled out of the team time

trial, we think she has a hamstring problem. She is not firing on all

cylinders. Even when you talk to the Dutch they don't really know where

she is act. She can afford to give a few percent away. -- where she is

act. One of the riders she has looked that as a possible contender

is a French rider. Who rides on the same professional team. One of the

hottest contenders for today because they have raised so much together

they know each other's strengths. Voss would be a fitting team-mate.

These two have been out for a spin on the course. Puffing and panting.

I loved every minute. It is the climbs that will prove decisive.

Only a few kilometres in, a punchy little climb. Back end of the race?

It feels good when you are fresh, after a few laps it could start to

hurt a little bit. If that is the toughest climb of the day we will be

fine. I can feel that! Ouch. I thought that was the climb at the

castle, but that is really going to take it out of everyone, we are 200

metres higher than the castle. The sprinters will struggle to hold on.

Definitely, once they are up there. Might be OK for a couple of laps. I

hope that is the hardest bit done. Right, that is definitely the top.

That last kilometre is where the damage can be done, all the way down

to the finish as well, any gap you have got at the top, it will be

extremely difficult to get back on the run-in. Race you down. Game on.

It is a tough course. It is very tough. That crime is harder than it

looks on the profile. I did not expect it to be that hard, that

first bit past the castle is OK, good legs, start the second climb

and it keeps going. If it is wet it will change the race, flip it on its

head, it will be completely different. It is not one for the

pure sprinters, pure climbers, it is not one. You need to be in really

good form. Extremely good shape. Unlike me. I need a copy. My legs

are burning. -- huffy. Copy? Testing. That massive crash, when

you have fallen down it is even more challenging. Simon? COMMENTATOR:

Thank you, Jonathan, welcome everybody. The race noticeably

affected by that crash on the last lap, a number of riders held up,

many forced to abandon. There may well have been another crash, one of

the riders from Israel has fallen. This rider fell a few minutes ago

for Australia. Looking less than happy, gingerly taking this dissent.

The news from the British point of view is positive, Lizzie Armitstead

towards the front, out of trouble. Two of the big favourites, the

defending champion came through the finish line 43 seconds down.

Immediately after the crash. Georgia from Italy had one team-mate with at

one 57. Over the last few minutes they have got back into the peloton.

The bronze medal time trial winner in the Commonwealth Games looks as

though her day is done at this world road race championship. World Cup

winner Armitstead is prominent at the front of the race for Great

Britain are staying out of trouble so far. We have seen two crashes

already. We are inside the final 80 kilometres. Pleased to say that will

surely more and Rob Hayles have made it back to the commentary box. Letta

we caught the end of the crash. We are not up-to-date with who is back

in the peloton. There is a bell Russian rider who looks like she has

received a bash. -- rider from Belarus. The Italian felt

quite hard, did not look like she would get back up and get back in.

It would be interesting to know how Voss is and how that crash has

knocked her about. It takes a toll on your mental condition. Her

team-mate looked like she was struggling. We had a little look.

Belgian lost a couple of riders. Some very heavy fall is. -- for

loans. Germany trying to control most of

this women's road race so far. They go over the second of the two climbs

per lap, this will be the key part of the race as the race goes on.

This may be where it is won and lost. You can see the Italians

getting together. In the black helmet with two white lines. That is

Georgia. The Italians are still there, they have got themselves

together. It will be interesting to see if they stick to the plan.

Australia looking weekend. -- looking week. It is not a great

situation, it was an awful crash, travelling at such high speed.

Alison Powers fell heavily in that crash. Good signs for the Italian

rider, it will have taken a lot out of her, the crash. She is upfront

with her team-mates, that will help her psychologically. The Italian

hanging in there. As the riders head up the climb. One kilometre long,

this second climb. Kelly Taylor, one of the Australians we saw, made it

back. She managed to make it back, so a few riders back in the peloton,

they will have worked extremely hard to get there. Pauline was in sixth

place towards the front of the peloton. Last is in good company at

this stage of the race. We have seen Hannah Barnes as well. Last is doing

a good ride, proving her spot here. They will be aware of this part of

the ride. There will be gaps opening up, trying to get their confidence

back. Four kilometres away from the next passage over the line. 68

riders in that front group. Just off the back, the Netherlands, Italy.

The Germans must be planning something because they are really

driving the pace on the front, splitting up towards the back of the

bunch. They look like they have control of this race at this point.

The Italians starting to gather towards the front, keeping a close

eye on things. There will be a lot of fatigue starting to creep into

the legs. This is where you have to watch out. When gaps start opening

you need to be wary of that quickly, can't afford to let a big gap go and

try and chase it down, unless you have team-mates with you. Those

riders that have positioned themselves well at the front, been

out of the accident, dodging around riders on the ground, they will have

an advantage mentally and physically going into the next lap here and the

next climbs. They have not had to deal with that. And the nervousness

of seeing an accident can play on your mind, you get more tense and

cautious. Not hanging around on this dissent in towards Ponferrada. Two

calamitous to the line. Whatever happens on the last lap, it will be

a wild chase down this twisting, technical dissent before they reach

the flat roads leading to the finish. On the back of the peloton,

just off the back, the Russian rider. About 15 seconds there from

the front of the peloton to the last ride on the back. Position will be

key going into the last lap will stop a long way to go. Looking

forward to the last lap and the descent into the finish. You really

have to be up near the front. Here we are, back with the front of

the race, we will see them coming through the finish in the not too

distant future. Almost three laps in the bag now. This is about the only

place on the circuit where there seems to be some kind of recovery.

Riders just getting their breath, plenty having a drink. Keeping up on

the fluids, it is fairly warm out there now. Hannah Barnes may come

into your picture shortly on the left. There she is, Hannah Barnes.

Lizzie Armitstead always staying near the front without having to

show her face. That is Evelyn Stevens, a big smile at the back of

the peloton, she is one of the favourites of the race in the USA.

She will be glad to be in one piece after a couple of her team-mates

ended up on the deck. Hannah Barnes at 21. Finishing her first with the

American squad, United health care. A couple of good early-season

results. Made a good early impression with her team. The

Swedish rider we just saw. The national champion of Sweden only

last year, Emily. Four laps to go. The German leading the way ahead of

Lauren Hall from the United dates. -- United States. Last in the top 25

as they came over the line. Someone from the Netherlands doing a bicycle

change, very quick change, back onto the back of the peloton. Lizzie

Armit said, 27 rider, over the line. -- Lizzie Armitstead. She has not

had any moments of panic as a result of crashes so far. The adrenaline

will have been coursing through the veins of the Italian rider, Georgia.

After that crash three kilometres from the finish at the end of the

lap, Georgia was nearly two minutes down when she went past the

commentary position here. Her team-mates will have worked hard to

get her back into that peloton. The peloton regrouped.

You can have all of the prerace talk of favourites, who is in form, who

is out of form, but a crash like that, it's decimated the field.

The rider in the black, with the White helmets, up towards the front,

up towards the front of the peloton, as they rode past.

Stephen just happy to ride at the back, the American rider, but she

has certainly been one to keep an eye on. Fifth in the World

Championship road race last year, already has a medal from the World

Championships. Her specialised squad were winning that one.

Eight in the Pan-American Championships of three years ago,.

The Australian making contact with the back of the peloton, she is back

in there, to strengthen the team. With Tiffany Cromwell. Comfortably

sitting near the front. Not as animated as we thought it would be

maybe everybody, perhaps the teams are trying to get together and

communicate with one another. As well, by the time we have got to

today, we have seen a few races go out earlier, over the last couple of

days. They begin to form a pattern. The riders coming back to the hotels

in the evening, the younger riders, asking how it was, there is

discussions. You come into this week with a loose plan. Once you begin to

talk to the other directors and riders in the team, you realise, it

is very difficult out there, and all of a sudden it is going to hit you,

especially if it is warm like it is today. They could very well be

planning for things to happen extremely late on in the last two

laps. Those who we know have abandoned the race, which must be as

a result of the crash, include Lizzie Williams, six in the time

trial, Canadian, no longer in the race, Kerchman out of the race, and

Anastasia Chulkova. Silver, of Brazil, Emily Collins, New Zealand,

she is out of the race, -- Silva. From the Czech Republic, Martina

Sablikova. Martina Sablikova did very well, in

11th, in the time trial. She is a three-time Olympic gold medallist

and ten time champion speed skater, she does cycling as a means of

keeping fit in the summer. Here she is performing at the top level, but

sadly, she is out of the race today. From yarn of man, Anna Christian,

leading the way for Great Britain, one of the more promising British

riders. She does not like to just turn up,

she likes to animate a race as long as she is involved. She could

possibly be the youngest rider in the race, it was said earlier on

Twitter, she does not have experience competing at this level

because she is so young. Interesting to see that she is thriving on this

atmosphere. She is a racer, she enjoys being out there. Clear role

to look after Lizzie Armitstead and she is certainly living up to

expectations. British road race champion last year, 25th in the

world junior road race this time last year in Florence, big step up

to go in with the seniors. Anna Christian, just 19 years old. I

mention the Commonwealth Games rider, she finished 18. Lizzie

Armitstead, winner of the World Cup, season-long competition, she has

nearly packed in towards the front of the peloton. Bujak From Poland

leaving her side of the course, she joins the list of TNFs, which will

be growing considerably. I think there is going to be one or two

more. -- DNFs. The Germans still on the front driving the pace, really

good race to this point. I guess there will be some spectators and

people watching on thinking that the Germans may have done too much too

early, they have taken up a lot of the pacemaking, the first part of

the race. They have come into the race with a game plan and they have

not faltered from that even the crash.

Steady climb up to Confederacion. Five kilometres long. Three parts of

the climb reaching 8% in the first two kilometres, the average gradient

4.6. Long old drag. Alison Powers, shorts torn, on the back end of the

peloton. United States team regrouping. Stevens, 22, looking

good. Powers, back in the main field. Also for the United states,

Megan, in front of us, number 18. And the Dutch rider just in front of

her. She was struggling to hold the pace but she is in among the wheels

once again. Alison Powers, as you can see, quite a heavy fall in that

crash. The American personnel will be shaking their heads in disbelief

at the back like they have had. They have lost calm and small before the

race began. She had a accident out training, free riders came down,

Stevens was one of them. She was able to start the team time trial

and the individual team trial, she got the bronze medal but having had

the crash with powers. -- Carmen Small. -- time trial. They have a

very strong team here. Shelley Goltz, being one of the sprinters.

Abbott. -- Shelley Olds. And indicated that she was there or

thereabouts. She definitely has form, she has had a consistent year

this year. Very reliable domestique. A steady pace on the climb to

Confederacion. It'll be interesting to how long up

the climb those three mountain bikers on the other side of the road

are able to cheer them on. Not too much longer, judging by the 1 at the

back. I think that is an electric bike, man at the front, giving a

wave and a smile! But they did well, holding pace with the peloton for a

few seconds! Making sure they keep hydrated in this race. 127.4

kilometres long. There is a mechanical with one of the Italians,

you can see, going back through the peloton. Could be a puncture. Could

be some kind of mechanical. Coming through on race radio about that not

yet. Ukraine up at the front at the moment. One of the riders from

Slovenia decides to make a move at the front. The riders being aided by

a crossed tail wind up here, if you are feeling good, it can go do you

into wanting to attack, if it was a blocked a headwind, it would put you

off, the peloton behind, not too concerned. Only the 1 rider going

clear, happy to let that go with 66.7 kilometres remaining. Stella

Kern may be on the front, riders still coming past the commentary

position, in little groups. She will have been relying on her to

be in it a little bit longer. We knew that Hanson would not have

great support towards the end of the race.

Stella Kern Leading the way. 24-year-old, riding the Giro

d'Italia this year, she was 18th in the Giro Tostano, that is a

pre-championship event towards the end of the season. We saw one of the

riders from Israel go off the front. A little bit further back for

France. A problem at the back. Looking painful, looking like hard

work. That looks like a face that is saying, that is a day for me.

Giorgia Bronzini one Copenhagen. -- won. It is not going to work out for

her today. The leader, out on the road, Kern. The gap is 20 seconds,

it is a long way to go. An awful long way through for an individual

rider to go clear. Trying to keep that going. She is going to be, I

should imagine, she will be hoping that one or two other riders come

across to her. Nobody seems interested in going clear of the

bunch. From the Netherlands, Van Dijk. And next to her, the defending

world champion, Marianne Vos. The Dutch have three defending world

champions. -- three World Championships. -- three world

champions. They have a very strong team, the Dutch. Missing a couple of

big hitters through injury. They have nine riders, they have a

very strong team, but they have lost Anna Van der Breggen coming into the

race. And so that was a big blow. And riders, have gone out. Here is

the leader. Even before she had made the attack, we saw her riding on the

front of the peloton. Shell account. -- should ?pela Kern.

Two of the big favourites had work to do to catch up to the front,

Mariella Voss, who was about three quarters of a minute down, she was

able to get back on, as was Giorgia Bronzini, from Italy, not long after

the crash was nearly two minutes back. The peloton regrouping. Those

riders back in the main field. Anna Christian, we can see, up towards

the front. From Great Britain. It is good to have your team-mates upfront

in vision. Also shows everyone else is the strength in depth, early in

the race. They said that Fallon had been dropped from the peloton, we

saw her, number 31, back in the main field, the Dutch squad, losing the

rider. That is the daughter of a former world champion, back in 1978.

She is a strong rider herself, well-placed the spring. Fifth in

that race. She is unable to contribute anything more today.

First time at the World Championships.

The Dutch team is very difficult to get into. Stevens. Interesting

character, she gave up a high-powered business career to race

as a cyclist? That is correct, and she has just decided that she is

going to sign with a new team. They are becoming a super-team. We may

see the strength transfer over. Did see Armistead. -- they have a new

addition in Chantelle Black, they have Lizzie Armitstead, they have

Van Dijk. . The lead of Spela Kern from Slovenia

is over half a minute. The road goes uphill. Yet again. Up

and over and round, and then on the top left hand of the screen that is

where it begins to level off. They have climbed 200 metres at this

point, above where they start. The first section of the climb down at

the castle. Beautiful shot. Early on. Here, we can see, going over the

top. Spela Kern getting her rhythm. None of the big nations are showing

their hand so far in this race. It is interesting, there has not been

any real attacks from the big nations. There was talk about

Marianne Vos, playing a more conservative role with the Dutch

team, and not going out on the attack and opening themselves up...

They want to save themselves for the end of the race. Marianne Vos can

kick off on that climb like nobody else. It is possible they will be

relying upon that. We will see. A lot of talk and confusion in the

week among people who are quite close to it, as to quite what her

condition is. There has been a big question mark over what has

happened. She pulled out of a couple of races. Yes, and she pulled out of

another Tour before the finish. Some people were saying that she was not

quite right, that she was injured. We have heard so many stories, that

she had knee pain, back pain, no problems. That her form is not

there, that she was sick. At the end of the day, a report from her

brother today, saying that they were playing it safe coming into the

World Championships. Some people see it as a negative, in reality, it may

have been a positive indication, she was going 100% for the World

Championships. Would we see anything into the way that she Road in the

team time trial? It may have been playing it safe. Unfortunately for

her, it may have saved her. -- fortunately for her. The horrific

accident, she had already dropped off back. Was it nerves? Was it

form? Was she thinking that she was going to go hard and then pull up,

with a very short effort. That is what we do not know, Marianne Vos

knows how to peak for a World Championship. We can only assume

that all of these things that have been indications of form may not be

there, it may be the complete opposite. What about the unity of

the Dutch team? Some riders have been team-mates but moving

elsewhere. Next year. Traditionally there has been a lot of Dutch riders

on Rabobank. There has been a few announcements that if you of the

riders from that team are leaving to go to other teams for new

opportunities, or just a change. It is not a negative thing, riders

deciding they will leave a strong team, perhaps it can be that they

want a change, they want something different, women cycling is

developing to the point where there is other teams and places to go,

where the environment is very professional. In the past it was

national funded and controlled teams that were very stable. As it becomes

more professional we see there is options out there. If you are a very

strong rider and you fancy yourself, opportunities are likely

to be few and far between, because Marianne Vos is the big name in the

sport, she is the leader of the team. The gap back to the peloton

from Stella Kirn is coming down, she is not being allowed to gain too

much ground. -- Spela Kern. She's very much within range. Number 40,

you can see. Anna Christian. Centre of the picture. Just out of the

saddle. Still in the leading group. And just in front of her, another

rider. In terms of riders, maybe just below that, who could spring a

surprise, would you include her? She would be in my top ten, she is a

punchy rider, she can do very well. She has the power on the steep

climbs. She is somebody who on the top game could match the likes of

Marianne Vos and Lizzie Armitstead. She came over from South Africa to

Europe, she established herself, one of those riders that would do

anything to have an opportunity and probably do it the hard way. The

first year she wrote the Giro d'Italia, she finished in the top

12. -- Road. There is an indication that one day she could be on the

podium at the Giro d'Italia. I would certainly put there in the top ten.

You may remember the coverage of the women's race at the Commonwealth

Games, the road race, tremendous print between her and Stephanie

Cromwell of Australia for the bronze medal and the South African just

managed to get it. -- Tiffany Cromwell. I did not think that I

could pick it, I knew the strength of Ashleigh Moolman, I knew that she

had done sprint work, and Tiffany has been sprinting well as well.

They are the best of the crime is. -- climbers. INAUDIBLE

Feeling quite good and quite confident, she is a rider who could

possibly take a win or a medal here at the World Championships because

she is a racer and she fears nothing. She has a couple of

team-mates from Australia there, we senior she has the support of some

of her team-mates. She was looking pretty relaxed at the hotel.

Yesterday she must have spent three hours painting nails with the

Australian flag. Every now completely different, very

intricate, very impressive painted patterns. She had finished her left

hand, I ask her about her right hand and she said, OK, that one is going

to be tricky! She left it undone but when she got around to it she

managed to make them both look beautiful! 20 of hours to fill when

you are away on international duty, not I'm suggesting you painted your

nails! LAUGHTER In terms of downtime and filling

time. -- plenty of hours. You cannot go wandering around the town. The

least amount of time that they can spend on their feet is the best. It

can be difficult. It is a little bit easier these days, not that Wi-Fi

was working particularly well in the hotel, but it is easier to be able

to pass the time of day. There is only so much time in the week and

today is heading into the championship that you would like to

spend on the bicycle. A few little hits, maybe one or two longer rides

in the week preceding the race. Other than that, a lot of time spent

with roommates in the hotel. Spela Kern is 40 seconds clear. And

leading the peloton over, some of the names up towards the front,

Lizzie Armitstead, Great Britain, fifth place, and Tiffani Cromwell,

of who we were speaking, from Australia. Ashleigh Moolman as well.

And Lisa Brennauer is there, and Elisa Longo Borghini. Giorgia

Bronzini is in the top 20 going over the top. Taylor, from Australia.

Olds up towards the front. Emma Johansson, 24. Hannah Barnes up

there for Great Britain as well. Plenty of big names towards the

front. Marianne Vos, defending champion, still in the main field as

well. Keeping her powder dry. We saw Warwick moved to the front for the

Germans to close this gap and not let it get out too far. In fact they

definitely have a plan. We have seen her on the front, it means they may

be working. Trixi Worrack. -- Worrack. This could be an indication

that they they are putting all of their efforts into Lichtenberg. She

races -- she is an experienced rider. I wonder about Lisa

Brennauer, but she has been prominent at the front of the

peloton in the early stages, suggesting she is not trying to stay

out of the way and save her energy quite as much. She could also be

pretty tired after riding two major events, team time trial, individual

time trial. Winning the both of them, she may have said, I do not

want to take my chances today, I want to be a support rider. And

let's race fresh legs in the German team. She should be proud of their

achievements are up-to-date. Inside the last couple of calamities in the

latest lab. -- last couple of kilometres in the latest lap.

Spela Kern has lost a little bit of ground, gaining uphill, seems to,

first 37, then 40, both times eating into the lead. No doubt she will

continue to do so. In extremely difficult for an individual rider on

this circuit to stay up clear. -- extremely difficult. Two other

riders coming across to her. Small-group. Sometimes, you find one

or two riders going up the road and then another and then another, and

before you know it, you have ten or so riders, eight, ten riders

upfront, and then the peloton can be in all sorts of bother. Peloton did

not react specifically to the move, he is a member of a new team, from

Slovenia. BTC, development team. They look pretty comfortable.

Several members of the team in the world road race championship... The

Slovenian, also riding for that team. Little bit of pressure on the

pedals. Lizzie Armitstead for Great Britain. Towards the front. That is

where she has been for most of the way so far. Annie Last, doing

reasonably well, reasonably well placed, as they come towards the

line for the latest time checks. 72.8 kilometres covered. Spela Kern

leading the way, maybe not too much longer. She has been ahead for about

three quarters of a lap. The rest of the peloton coming across the line.

British team have done well, they still have a few riders supporting.

Three laps to go, we may see something happen. A few riders from

each nation that may not be the favourites, but may go away, just to

see... Clear indication now that the Italians are protecting Giorgia

Bronzini, they are riding for her. Armitstead over the line, safely

tucked into the pack. Last alongside her. Just ahead of Armitstead.

Hannah Barnes just a couple of places behind. Barnes is still there

for Great Britain. Christian as well still in that group. That is the

situation. The Slovenians still reading. Pleasantly warm afternoon,

not too hot for the riders. Little wind to speak of on the streets of

Ponferrada today. The world title is at stake, will Marianne Vos win for

the fourth time? She is an incredible athlete. She has been

first or second every year since 2006. She was second about five

years in a row at one point. Unbelievable, she is a phenomenal

athlete and amazing person, the amount of emotion she has done for

women's cycling and gone out of the way to juggle developing and

promoting women's cycling and being at the top of her game and a leader

of her team, probably does a lot of management in the team as well, she

is a phenomenal person, you don't come across somebody so talented in

so many areas. It is not just wrote, cyclo-cross, the track, world aren't

world champion. I have seen her cheering on team-mates in races she

has not been competing in. She was hosting a busload of VIPs in the

World Cup. Showing them because, explaining what cycling is about to

them. And standing on the side of the road, passing up bottles to

team-mates. Quite a phenomenal person and very lovable, just a real

great role model for women's cycling. Hectic schedule, I remember

the day she came to ride in the ride London race, women's Grand Prix, on

the Saturday, in August last month, she was in Belgium in the morning

with a previous engagement, but Lupin, took part in a race, nearly

won, beaten by Bronzini on the line. She did that to support racing in

the UK. She was at the women's Tour. She decided, OK, there are so many

loyal supporters in the UK, I want to get over there. She had scheduled

team time trial training in Belgium, got a private jet in the afternoon

to race in right London. The recruitment officers at on Friday

youth centre, the voluntary army is burgeoning. Alvarez leads a few

miles from Ponferrada. -- lips. This summer I was working for three

months in Italy. It was really nice. I saw this and I said, OK, I will

take this opportunity because we don't have an opportunity like that

every day. And then I am here. Now I am talking French, then meet

somebody from Germany, taught in English, somebody from France

talking in French, I love that. Among the many finish line

volunteers, this man has come from Cordoba to be close to his heroes. I

am accompanying some of the guys from anti-doping. It is an amazing

experience from any cycling fan. I wanted to be here and the only way I

thought I could be here was volunteering, I took it. It is a bit

like the Olympics, all of the volunteers are the ones that make

it, without them we would not be here. I will remember it for the

rest of my life, I our big fan of Bradley Wiggins, it is amazing. -- I

am a big fan. The volunteers certainly make all of the difference

in the world, these World Championships, from what we have

seen, have been extremely well organised this week. They were

keeping the pedestrian crossings well in order yesterday when I was

at the side of the road watching the men's under 20 Three Rd race. Great

job iPods rather, there is the centrepiece of the town. -- great

job by Ponferrada. Still no sign as to which direction is women's road

race may go. That is our leader from Slovenia. Not a particularly

well-known rider, it has to be said. She is doing a good job, she looked

over her shoulder and saw the peloton was close. Most riders would

have given up, she put pressure on the pedals. 14 seconds is a gap

between her and the peloton. Kern has shown already in this race she

has a good pair of climbing legs on her and is likely to stay where she

is at the front. The peloton will not be unduly concerned, they will

be happy for her to be where she is at the moment, very much in range,

with 50 kilometres to go here. In the Spanish sunshine. Still a big

peloton. We expect something to happen on this lap, whether at the

start of this crime or toward the end of the lap when it gets a little

bit steeper, with only three to go you would expect there would be a

few riders who want to test their legs. The Italian team, we wondered

whether they would race hard from the start or surround Bronzini and

get her to the finish. Her confidence will be building, though

she had that maps the accident early in the race. -- nasty accident. We

have not seen to what extent she was involved in that accident. She has

made up a couple of minutes she was delayed, hopefully she has been able

to regain composure and is very much in it once again as she hunts for

what would be her third world road race title. One American sprinter is

still hanging in there, interesting to see if the sprinters get to the

finish. If they start to like this race up it will be very tough.

Shelley is a rider who many felt would find it difficult with the

amount of climbing on this course, but she has been doing plenty of

work in preparation for this to make sure her climbing is as good as it

possibly can be. 16 seconds, Kern leading the way on the climb.

Talking about preparation for the World Championships, the women's

calendar has a couple of flat races in Holland and Belgium, leading into

the World Championship. When there is a hill race, they have to decide

whether to do flat, fast racing or staying in altitude in the mountains

and do hill work, different athletes choosing different things. The likes

of Marianne Vos chose to stay in Holland on the ladies Tour, the two

are in Belgium. -- the Tour in Belgium. She has not been in

altitude preparing for this race. It is possible that Marianne Vos does

not consider this hilly. The Latvian was the first rider off in the time

trial on Tuesday, she is hanging on Tuesday, she is hanging onto the

coat-tails. Number 31 from Sweden, Emilia Fahlin, on the back of the

peloton, as she was on the last lap in this part of the course. About to

go past one of three Brazilian riders in this field. One of the

spectators trying to get a feel for what it might be like to be in the

peloton. I sense not for long. Quite amazing spectators can get so close

to the athletes, riding along five metres by their sides, taking

photographs. They can feel like they are a part of it. Looking at the

riders who have retired, Heidi Dalton from South Africa has gone.

Seeing if any of the big names have gone. Earlier we mentioned a rider

who is out of the race for Belarus, she was one of the fancied riders.

She fell heavily. She had a great season and prepared specifically for

the World Championships, fancying her chances of being on the podium.

She has stood out this year. A lot of people taking notice of how

strong she is, versatile as well. Alice Barnes and Lucy Garner out of

the race for Great Britain, two of the British riders out of the race.

Moira abbot of the United States is out as well, she is a really good

climber. Belgium lost three as a result of the crash, so did Canada.

The Canadians only came with four to start with. Lizzie is down to three,

last, Barnes and Christian, it may put more pressure on her, but she

seems to have kept herself out of trouble until now. Being well placed

in the peloton all the way through this race. It is as you were with

Kern at the front of the race, just dangling in front of the peloton.

Still on that grind. Not the most densely populated part of Spain, it

must be said, around here, it is not close to anywhere else, even Leon is

an hour and a half in the car, that is one of the closest major places.

The British team are staying there. The French 100 kilometres away as

well. Even if you live in Spain, it is a fair trip to come and watch

these World Championships. It can be extremely difficult logistically, an

hour and a half for the GB riders, if they are off earlier, it adds to

the day. Early breakfast. There is a crash, let's have a look and look is

involved? We peel away at precisely the wrong moment. Looked like there

was an attack at the front of the peloton. It is the national champion

of Italy. Seems like there was an attack of the front of the peloton,

which started to stretch it out, then we had this crash near the

back. She finished 10th overall in the women's Tour in the UK, in that

race earlier in the year. There was the fall, caught up in that as well

was Annie last. Luckily she is OK, as you can clearly see, and was soon

back on the road. She looked very relaxed and calm, putting the chain

back on herself and jumping on, some riders would wait for the mechanics

to check out their bikes. She has taken initiative. On the mountain

bikes, they do not have mechanics driving up behind them. Douglas was

talking to an E in the week and said, what about the tricky

descent? She said there are not any rocks on it. They have to be

extremely self-sufficient, mountain bikers, when the race is under way,

that is it. Right at the front of the race is an Christian, number 40,

for Great Britain. And Lizzie Armitstead to her left. Armitstead

looking strong and Anna Christian doing everything she can, the

19-year-old, to stay with Armitstead and support her as long as possible.

Still towards the back, iris of the Netherlands on the back, hanging in

there. Marianne Vos in the orange colour of the Netherlands. Kern's

turn at the front is over, there she is back in the main field. We have

not seen much of the Japanese rider, she has come back from an Asti

injury sustained in Sweden a month ago. Two riders from Japan. -- from

a nasty injury. 113 is the Japanese rider, third in one of the stages of

the Giro d'Italia this year. She deserves a place in the pro peloton.

Top 20 finish overall in that race. She is the national champion in the

road race and time trial. Everybody sensing a little bit of danger.

Moving to the front is iris. On the other side of the road, was that

Annie trying to come around the outside having got back into the

peloton? We could do with a closer look. It may well have been, the

British rider going from the back to the front. We see evidence Stephen

is, she was riding off the back, she seems to be one of those who seems

confident on the front or at the back out of trouble. -- even Stevens

she does not look comfortable in the face. She has just made her way up.

Lizzie Armitstead on the left-hand side of the screen, third from the

left-hand side we look. Certainly nervous coming into the peloton.

They are starting to fight for position. A little bit of looking

around going on. We have not seen any of the big names show their face

at the front. The Dutch team starting to move up on both sides of

the peloton, left and right. The ride in the Blackadder disappointing

time trial, she was not on the podium this year, though she was the

past few years. -- the ride in the black had a disappointing time

trial. Let's face it, she has proved so many times in the past she can do

that. Looks like it might be the Dutch. Started to put the pressure

on going into the descent, they realised everybody was at the front,

let's start to put some speed into the peloton, stretch it out and get

other people out of place, out of position. I get the feeling the race

might be on. This is the last part of the climb until they go over the

top and get the descent, where we have seen the peloton get stretched

out. The Germans are there, well placed with two riders. USA as well.

The Germans have had a good race to this point, they are losing their

numbers. They have done a lot of work in the first part of the race.

Becker was leading. Looks like they are supporting her. They have done a

lot of work in the first part of the race. The whittling down process may

start in earnest over the next few kilometres. Lizzie Armitstead moves

up to the second wheel. She has that beautiful style, a lot of people say

the toughest thing about racing with her is that she does not show any

expression on her face or in her body until she gets under immense

pressure, her composure does not change at all, she has a beautiful

pedalling style. It is difficult to see if she is feeling the pressure

because she really can keep her composure to the real death. She has

watched everything so far, maintained her concentration through

this race without having to show her face. She really has been well

positioned. Italians moving up on this descent. It is not overly

technical, but when they are travelling at this speed in close

proximity, it can be. Is that Bronzini on the front or second

place? Bronzini in second place, after the accident early on, she may

have decided she needs to do the descent at the front and as to the

team-mate to lead. It is likely that is her team-mate, known for her good

descending skills. You can see the length of the peloton, they are

getting stretched out. A great mix in the Italian team, former world

champions. A wealth of experience and talented young riders. Everybody

getting around that bend in one piece, fortunately. So far so good

in the women's race, that corner has proven to be quite a problem in

other races. It has taken several riders out over the past few days,

it really has. A little look around to see if there is any damage.

Tatiana keeping the pace quite high on the front. She was seventh in the

World Championship last year will in 2009 she won the world title. The

Italians have a good run at the World Championships. They pull it

together, ride well as a team. Does not matter who wins from the Italian

team. At the World Championships, they do an aptitude test before they

go away, put it together. They have been consistent since 2009. It is a

big thing for the Italians, perhaps more so than some of the other

nations. In the lead ups to the World Championships. The team

announcement, there is a lot of talk, build-up, the unity of Italy

and the opportunity to wear the jersey. Absolutely, you have these

riders on different proteins through the season, but they do favours for

each other through the year because they have to ride together at the

World Championships. Italy has been the heart of cycling for a long

time, it is prestigious to be part of the Italian national team for the

World Championship. If it stays like this for another couple of laps we

will see the most liked for scrap on that one kilometre descent with five

kilometres to go. Not much road and everybody will want it. Lizzie

Armitstead getting out of the saddle. The further into this race

we go and the more they have left in their legs, it means the fireworks

will be bigger and brighter on that last lap. The descent will be worth

watching. I would not want to be writing it. Still a tightly packed

peloton. Number 40, right in front of the camera, and a Christian. --

Hannah Christian. Hannah Barnes, 39, towards the back for Great

Britain. Stevens to the left of our screen. She likes to be on the

front. Or a couple of metres of the back. Germany still controlling

things up towards the front of the peloton, as they have done for much

of the race. They have really shown strength and depth today from the

word go. The first lap. But riders up on the front, showed intent. They

have stuck to it all the way so far. Of the big favourites, who would be

the happiest so far at this stage of the race, for the race to be like

this? Bronzini would normally be very content because she is the

sprinter of this race. Shelley is another sprinter. Bronzini is the

only one who has been able to challenge Marianne Vos in a

head-to-head sprint, she will be feeling very happy it has been quite

controlled until now, she will only be a little disappointed she had to

do so much work earlier in the race to come back from that accident.

Will be interesting to know what the effects of that crash are. I think

Lizzie Armitstead would certainly have hoped for it to be a little bit

harder, I think, especially as we go into this late stage of the race,

she would want a lot more people under more pressure. Lizzie

Armitstead said in her interview earlier she is not coming to a World

Championship feeling more confident. She said no wider in this peloton is

in condition to drop me from their wheels, it indicated she would race

defensively and try to follow the moves, back herself in a sprint with

whichever riders come to the finish. Here she is controlling at the

front, looking around. Stretching her legs, having a look, seeing who

is there. She will not want it to be an easy race to the line, she wants

to take the sting out of the legs of Bronzini. She is quite fast, you

would put her in the top five of speed in this peloton. No facial

expression, she gave everybody the look. She is a master of the

straight face. She looks great and probably in this case is feeling

great as well. From the British point of view, coming into this

championship with the best year of her career. In very good form.

Feeling confident and quite bullish about her chances. Everybody else

knows that, we saw she'd probably manage a pedal reference before the

rest of the riders reacted. -- pedal revs. Tiffany Cromwell fifth over

the crest from Australia. Bronzini will be happy enough at the

moment with the way this race is panning out. What a race it promises

to be over the closing couple of laps, 40 kilometres to go. This is

the descent where there was a spectacular crash early in the race.

A little bit calm now in the peloton, starting to bunch up,

nobody really wanting to take up the pressure on the front. Are they

waiting for the last lap is Marianne Vos going to wait for that last

climb to kick? That is often enough for her. If she is on top form and

the rumours are not true she is struggling, nobody can match her

kick. If you get five or six seconds over the top, she can descend like

no one else in the peloton. If she is on form that is probably her

most... She does not want to be isolated and make wrong moves. To

get over that line with a gap must be her plan. They might send a Dutch

rider of the road on the last lap and let the other nations chase that

down. Marianne Vos has a kick nobody can match. Do you feel Armitstead

would wish to be alone coming into the finish or not too unhappy in a

group? Depends on the combination of the group. With Lizzie's sprint, she

tends to wait and react from the other riders. She is a fast rider,

wants up to speed, but her kit is not that good. -- kick. If she wants

to go head-to-head with one or two other riders who have a sprint, she

needs to take control and put her move in first in the closing couple

of hundred metres to get a gap. Once she is up to speed she is quick and

has that track pedigree from earlier on. It is the initial getting up to

speed. We look at the Italian is putting pressure on the front.

Looking around to check who is there. Going back to Lizzie and the

finish, she would certainly much prefer to be in this position here,

on the final lap, away on her own with a good, probably at this point

around about ten seconds, advantage. 10-15 seconds over a small group

behind, that would be what she would be fairly guaranteed depending on

who is left in that group behind. If it is a small group she is with, she

definitely needs to go on the offensive and take control in the

sprint. She is towards the front of the race as per usual. Two to go.

There is Armitstead in the middle, just in discussion... She looks

fairly comfortable at the moment. She should certainly be happy with

how the race has panned out for her thus far. I am sure she will be

hoping there is a little bit of animation the next couple of laps

because she wants to create a situation where the likes of

Marianne Vos and the stronger riders need to close some gaps and she can

benefit from that. A situation where the likes of Marianne Vos and the

stronger riders need to close some gaps and she can benefit from that.

Rider Johansen, one of the punchier riders.

Emma Johansson will not be far away, right behind us, the direction of

where the climbs are, there is a rather unfriendly looking thundery

clout... On the horizon. We will hope that does not start to pour

down on the riders. And make life more difficult for them over the

closing couple of laps. If it does it will certainly play a part. A

part that we do not really want to see, on these roads especially. Big

peloton still together. As they come up towards the line. For the

Netherlands, Iris Slappendel, she has done a great job to get back in

and be a main player. 91 kilometres in the bags for these riders. Annie

Last and Lizzie Armitstead, up towards the front of the peloton.

Hannah Barnes and Anna Christian towards the back. Now the race is

on, the United States begin to animate the road race, with two to

go. The Netherlands on the front of the peloton, just trying to take

control of that. One of the riders from the USA,

trying to break away. Just over two laps to go.

Alison Powers has made the move, we are being told, who crashed heavily

earlier in the race. We need to get back down on the road, just for

confirmation that it is Alison Powers.

Here she is, circling the centre of the town. She has a decent little

gap, I do not think it will come to much, but it will put pressure on

the peloton, lining them out and setting themselves up, not before

too long they will hit the first part of the circuit where it hits

the climb, that will be a bit of a sting in the legs for a lot of

riders. She is a strong rider and an individual time trial. Triple

national champion in the United States, Alison Powers. Winning the

criterion, the individual time trial and the road race for the USA, very

strong rider, she has got to get there. Very disappointed with her

time trial early in the week, finishing eighth. Probably hoping

for a medal or a top five, that is what we would have expected, very

visibly disappointed with that. She has not given up. Perfect excuse

with a big crash like that, to pull the pin on such a hard course, but

not specifically suited to her style of riding. She is making the most of

it. Before we have mentioned they have several cards to play, the

United States. She is the first of them here. She could be setting

things up nicely, Stevens. A little bit lighter than she was at the

start of the race, she has lost a little bit of Bach, she will be

climbing better. If it comes down to a sprint, then hanging onto Giorgia

Bronzini's back wheel, I am sure that we will see Olds. 11 seconds is

the gap. It has gone up to 12 seconds for

Alison Powers of the United States. It has thrown out the peloton, this

is the point on the circuit where we can see, visually, there is not an

awful lot of recovery, the home straight seems to be the only spot

on the circuit where the riders have the most of it, and they can relax a

little bit, get in the wheels and recover and take a little bit of

food and drink on-board, the rest of the time they are chasing, and this

is what Lizzie Armitstead was hoping for. Much more of this ilk on this

section of the circuit. A lot of pressure on a lot of riders. .

Downhill through the town before they see the castle in the distance.

That will mark the four kilometre mark in terms of this lap. More less

Mark King the start of the five K climb up to the top of

Confederacion. -- five kilometre climb. Alison Powers's move will be

in the function of a strong team finish. Which nations will chase?

She will hand in a little gap. The USA looking to draw the sting of a

few others. Great move for the USA. It looks as though it is going to

put pressure on the other nations if they leave it too much longer, she

is a very strong rider. Definitely the rider from the United

States that is leading the way, looked like the Dutch riders were on

the front. There is one of them. Not wanting this to get out of reach.

Trying to contain it as best as possible. . This is always a tough

one, when a rider has gone clear and you know there are degree as a time

trialist. She is a diesel type rider, she can stay out there for a

long time and if the gap becomes too big and out of sight, and they do

not pick up the pace soon enough, could be a very dangerous move. The

Dutch are the ones to potentially respond on the front of the peloton.

At the moment it is about 12 seconds, the gap to Alison Powers.

Looks like it might be more than that but it is not. At least one of

the riders from the Netherlands is on the front of the peloton.

Effectively out of the race, Amelia, she goes past our common territory

session. The question is, which nation will take it up? 60 riders in

the front of the group at the moment. 21 seconds is the gap at the

moment. Lizzie Armitstead, still in a good position for Great Britain,

up towards the front of the race. Meanwhile... Down in the pits in the

finishing area, Jill Douglas has been speaking with Lucy Garner. You

are carrying a bit of damage, after the crash, you were down twice. I

was only down once actually but yes, it was a silly crash, I'm very

annoyed. There was no chance I could get on the cars, they will not let

me. I put in a big effort to get back, I managed to get back but then

I was totally dead when I got back. For me to have done my job well, I

needed no mistakes and yes, it went wrong. Huge crash involving half the

field, pretty dramatic. I came down shortly afterwards and there were

bodies everywhere, it can be so dangerous out there. Pretty

dangerous. If you go in at full pelt and there is people a bit nervous,

that is what happens. Disappointing to see you come out at this stage,

but Lizzie Armitstead is still there, with Hannah as well. Lizzie

looks like she is flying, all of the girls in there for her, she is

flying and it looks like she could have it, she is looking very good.

Jill Douglas, with Lucy Garner, not her day-to-day, but a very young

rider, very promising rider. Twice the world junior road race champion.

There will be better days ahead for her surely. She sounds disappointed

she could not have done more. Two-time junior world champion. She

is mixing it up with the best sprinters in the world. Very

well-known in the peloton as one of the fastest in the world at a very

young age, she would have liked this opportunity to see what she could do

on a tougher circuit, really. Looked like a very heavy fall, early in the

race, you could see that at the time. A bang on the right-hand side

of her body. And we saw pictures of Alison Powers, she had a fall. Looks

like the peloton is keeping it in check. She has done a lot of work

today for the Germans, just setting the pace. The former team time trial

gold medallist at the championships. The Spanish showing their faces. Ana

Sanchez, Riding for the same professional team as Becker. They

are taking up the pace. One of the riders from Finland still hanging in

there, not sure which one it is. Poland as well, represented. At the

front of the peloton. Ukraine as well. Two or three Polish riders.

Russia coming to the front. A bit of pressure on. Lizzie Armitstead will

be a little bit happier now. Riders jostling for position, coming

through, trying to get clear of the wheels ahead. Trying to grab

bottles. She is a bit of a diesel, she can sit there and tapped out

this rhythm all day long. She got out of the saddle with a little

discomfort, perhaps because of the fall, she is not a rider that likes

racing in Europe, she has said that very vocally, she does not like the

European style of racing, she spends most of her time racing in the USA.

This is a position that she will be very well acclimatised to, being off

the front, getting into rhythm. You can see the peloton in the

background, keeping her in check. On the front, the Russian rider, but we

will have to wait and see which one it was. Number one for the

Netherlands, Amy Peters, just sliding back a little bit. Amy

Peters was second in a World Cup race in Sweden only last month. Just

beginning to lose a little bit of contact. Just hanging on. If the gap

is not big, you can see the dark cloud in the distance, heading

straight for it. Usually comes back together. There is a couple of flats

on the way up. This could be a bit of a move. Who is it at the front?

It could be Hannah Barnes, it could be Anna Christian, we will get a

better picture in a moment. Lizzie Armitstead is obviously said she

would like a harder race than this is, she wants to take the

initiative. Alison Powers has been overtaken here very quickly.

The peloton is animated here. Another of the riders from the

United States making a move. Alison Powers has made her efforts of the

day, as soon as she has finished, there is another coming, and one of

her team-mates. My guess is that that is the young

rider, Anna Christian. Just behind these riders.

The Polish rider peeling off. The Israeli and rider on third wheel. --

the Australian rider. Bronze medal in Commonwealth Games, only got her

citizenship in the last year. At least three riders out the back

here. Really will begin to whittle down from behind. The New Zealander

at the front on the right, Linda Williamson. Good to see Anna

Christian getting as involved as possible in the race. And now we can

see a fuse box of rain. There we go... This will be nervous times.

You can see the rain on the lens but also on the road, not raining on the

Finnish road but at the back of the circuit... -- finish line. And if it

is wet on the descent, do not go and make a cup of tea, that is all that

I can say. This is going to put the cat among the pigeons. Sizeable

spanner. -- and now we can see a view spots of rain. There will not

be many riders who will have been watching weather like this. Lizzie

Armitstead would be one of them, she says that she likes wet weather, at

the Commonwealth Games she said she would to rain. She does not get

rattled by the rain, she is quite comfortable. You did not mind it in

London in the Olympics either, fairly damp that day, getting the

silver medal behind Marianne Vos. What a race that was. They could be

the only two in the peloton that are happy that it rained.

Looking comfortable in the middle in the black up towards the front,

Linda Villumsen. You have different types of athlete, she is switched

on, bit of a jackpot, you do not know what you are going to get. Well

positioned at the front, and that is an indication that she is doing

nicely. Trying to make life more difficult for everybody else.

Looking like Anna Christian again, first world championship, one of the

youngest, perhaps the youngest in the bike race, great to see her out

there. Great ride. Is that Katrin Garthwaite on her wheel? Actually it

is Rachel, the silver medallist from a couple of years ago. There is a

lot of looking around going on. Meanwhile, Linda looking very

comfortable in the black of New Zealand. Inside the last 30

kilometres of the race. -- Katrin Garfoot. There is going to be some

fighting, the gaps are going to open up even more, from the front to the

back, an awful lot further than it has been on the laps previous.

Lizzie Armitstead upfront, alongside Anna Christian, on the right-hand

side as we look. Still tightly packed up. Another move going on the

right-hand side of the road. Anna Christian and Lizzie Armitstead

there, interesting to see who these ones are. The second is in a

strolling rider. Germany bringing it back... Hannah Barnes on the

front... A lot of criticism about the British national team but they

have done quite well to get this far into the race and be the ones that

are animating it with less than two laps to go. Katrin Garfoot,

Australia. The Australians, with Rachel and Tiffany Cromwell and

Katrin Garfoot, all of them in good position. And the Finnish rider in

good position. We still have not seen much from Emma Johansson today.

Fair to say there is a lot less in the peloton at the top of this crime

going over then there were at the bottom. -- at the top of this

climb. A couple of Ukrainian riders having a dig at the front and marked

closely by the United States... Look at the weather now, absolutely

horrible. It has completely changed, it has really turned this race on

its head. But at the finish, as dry as a bone. So far, so good. That

could be Shelley Olds, the American on the second wheel, and if it is,

looking very comfortable for a sprinter to be this comfortable at

this stage in the race. Just taking her time off the back,

Mexican rider, Veronica. As the road heads up... An awful lot of standing

water on the flatter sections of the road. Australia now on the front.

High-performance manager of Israeli said that Rachel is in the form she

was in two years ago when she was second to Marianne Vos, in Holcombe

Burke. May have been right. -- Falk and Berg. She has been plagued by

injury and misfortune, and an accident with a car earlier this

year, but coming into form at the right time for the championships. --

Valkenburg. Looking very strong here, making a move off the front,

on the shiny wet roads. And they are going to be slippery, this has put

an awful lot of pressure on the other teams. Which one is going to

take it up? Which one is going to try to contain the mood? The

Australian rider is back in the peloton, they can sit there, on the

wheels, a bit of spray on their face, but they can relax a little

bit. When these breaks go, Lizzie Armitstead will be banking on the

Germans, the Italians, the Dutch and the United States to respond. Great

move by Rachel, not the most confident, we will see her lose a

little bit of time. Lottie Becker when the rain came down there may

have been a bit of extra motivation to do something on the ascent, a

little bit of leeway on the descent. We will keep a close eye on this,

particularly the right-hander. None of the riders have done the descent

in the wet in the week either, so this is going to be a new experience

for a lot of the riders. How much traction on the tyres? At least she

can pick her own line, she is not being overly harassed by anybody

around her or affected by anybody around her. It is a lot slower and a

lot more cautious going around the bend. . That was a deep breath, she

is happy to be at the bottom of the descent, now she has got to work

pretty hard to put the pressure on the other riders, she is very loyal,

loves to ride for her team-mates, prides herself on being one of the

most strongest and reliable domestiques in the line-up. The

nature of the descent, with the weather changing, has really changed

things. Still dry at the finish, we hope that it was just a passing

shower. Disappearing off in the other direction. Rachel Neylan is

coached by Bradley McGee, I heard him giving her a pep talk, she has

moved to Sydney, to training during the Australian summer, under the

guidance of Bradley McGee. Rachel Neylan, striking out inside the

final 25 kilometres. Plenty of riders in contention, air handful of

seconds behind. -- a handful. Lizzie Armitstead behind.

It is fair to say this race is well and truly on, a lot different than

the previous laps we have seen. 24.3 kilometres remaining.

She has had her fair share of injury, Rachel Neylan, she had an

accident in 2012, after she was silver at the World Championships,

against Marianne Vos, it felt like a win, because she was so dominant in

2012. Second at the World Championships, very impressive.

Megan Guarnier, of the USA, and Charlotte Becker of Germany, they

have dropped out of the back of the main chasing group as you can see,

but as you can see, it is a few seconds, the gap, or Rachel Neylan.

Last time check we had ten seconds. That is what it is now. Lizzie

Armitstead, on the front. She's looking around, she may be

looking for team-mates to pick up the pace, nobody else picking it up,

she would like to keep it higher, she does not want to many fresh

legs. Just behind Lisa Brennauer, the American, Shelley Olds, we did

not expect her to get this far into the race. On the lest of your -- on

the left of your screen, from New Zealand, the five-time World

Championship medallist in individual time trials. A couple of French

riders there as well. Up towards the front. Back at the front of the

race, Rachel Neylan. As Rachelle the saying, silver medallist a couple of

years ago. Quite bullish and confident yesterday, in the

Australian press conference, head of the race, sitting alongside Tiffani

Cromwell. -- as Rochelle was saying. -- Tiffany Cromwell. Not holding

much back. With two very strong team-mates back in the peloton,

every reason to give 100%. She will either work out our own advantage or

set up the team for the best advantage. Interesting she is

wearing a skin suit, a lot of riders choosing to do that in road races

rather than big shorts and jersey, she has the skin suit on. In terms

of the benefit you would accrue over a long race. Yes, certainly. -- bib

shorts and jersey. Bradley Wiggins averaged 50 K pH, and so speed

anything above 15, 20 K pH and you are... Aerodynamics plays a part...

We are on the climb but you can see the speed at which they are going

up. It played such an important part. This is what Lizzie Armitstead

would like to happen, the Italians have bitten, they have decided they

need to leads the race and straightaway, Lizzie Armitstead is

following. Third at the World Championships last year, leading the

chase, Rozelle Ratho. Probably for the likes of Giorgia Bronzini. --

Rossella Ratto. Busy Armistead has sensed the danger, she would like to

contribute to this, she is on a mission. Trying to see if Marianne

Vos is in the leading group, there is a Dutch rider but I do not think

it is boss... Yes, it is Marianne Vos who is there. And you can see,

all of the big names, beginning to appear at the front of the race.

Lizzie Armitstead leading the way. -- I do not think it is Marianne

Vos, guess it is Marianne Vos actorly. Well represented the Tour

group, tapping off the climb. Fortunately the roads look try once

again. They say that is the moment where you can get a puncture, when

the road goes from being wet to being dry, that is when you pick up

things. Lizzie Armitstead bouncing on the bike, hopefully she does not

have a puncture, that would be devastating. At this point, even the

neutrals would say this would be so far behind you. The riders you are

with, travelling so fast, you really do lose ground if you have a

puncture or a mechanical. You can see the gaps opening up from the

riders at the front, this small group of the front of what is left

of the peloton. Lizzie Armitstead in the thick of it. Creating this, she

is... So far, so good, really is to plan for her, she has got to keep

the pressure on, she wants to keep the race fast.

15 riders at the front of the race, they are about 20 seconds clear, we

understand. Closing few minutes of the

penultimate lap here. Lizzie Armitstead, enhance the rainbow

jersey. Only three British women have ever been world champion

before: Beryl Burton, twice in the 1960s, Maggie Jones in 1992 and

Nicole Cooke, 2008. And Lizzie Armitstead looking to join that

company. Cannot be many more than a dozen or so riders... 17 riders in

the lead group. As they fly down the dissent. Emma Johansson, second

wheel, we have not seen much of her today, but along with Marianne Vos

and Lizzie Armitstead, we thought she would be there in the final

moments. 20 kilometres remaining, strung out, finally getting the

selection here, in the women's road race World Championship, as the

defending champion, Marianne Vos, we have not seen much of her, she

begins to show her face at the front. On the dissent. The next time

they come down here, the race is going to be very much on, and

Marianne Vos, leading the way, 17 riders at the front of the race. --

on the descents. It is all to play for, and Lizzie Armitstead, Great

Britain, still in the hunt for gold. STUDIO: Coming towards the end of

the coverage on BBC One but we will not miss anything, we will be going

straight over to BBC Two for the culmination of this. In Northern

Ireland, it will be until 5:30pm that you have got to wake but for

the moment on BBC