Lizzie Armitstead finishes second at Tour of Flanders as team-mate Ellen van Dijk wins solo

Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead finished second in the women’s Tour of Flanders behind Boels-Dolmans team-mate and solo winner Ellen van Dijk.

Van Dijk attacked her rivals 16km from home on the final climb of the day, the Paterberg, and could not be caught.

Fellow Boels-Dolmans rider Armitstead set off in pursuit along with Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Hitec Products), but the trio were unable to haul the world time trial champion back.

Armitstead then pipped Johansson in a sprint for second place to seal her sixth consecutive podium finish in a one-day race.

The 135.3km race was the third event of the UCI Women’s Road World Cup. Armitstead led the standings at the start of the day and her runner-up finish ensures she retains the series leader’s jersey ahead of the fourth race, La Fleche Wallonne Feminine, on April 23.

Armitstead tweeted afterwards: "Textbook tactics, RVV 1-2 for @boelsdolmansct the easiest Flanders final I ever did, sitting in the wheel whilst @ellenvdijk took victory!"

Result

1 Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Boels-Dolmans, 3:47:50
2 Lizzie Armitstead (GB) Boels-Dolmans, +1:01
3 Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica-AIS, same time
4 Elisa Longho Borghini (Ita) Hitec Products, +1:03
5 Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Rabobank-Liv, same time
6 Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Rabobank-Liv, st
7 Liesbet de Vocht (Bel) Lotto Belisol, st
8 Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels-Dolmans, st
9 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Specialized-lululemon, st
10 Evelyn Stevens (USA) Specialized-lululemon, st