Marianne Vos has retained the women’s Road Race title at the World Championships in Italy. The 26-year-old Dutch rider comfortably won the 140km (86.2mile) race in Italy in a time of 3hrs, 44 minutes, 15 seconds ahead of second-placed Emma Johansson (Sweden) with Italy’s Rossella Ratto taking third. GB’s Lizzie Armitstead, who won Olympic Silver to Vos’s Gold last year, finished back in 19th place – the highest placed Brit.
The British performed little better (in fact considerably worse) in the men’s Road Race. In a rain-soaked and crash-scattered event, Portugal’s Rui Costa took the win in 7hrs 25’42”, whilst 2013 Tour de France winner Chris Froome dropped from the event with 80kms let to run. None of the other seven Brits on show – including Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish – crossed the line either.
Talking to Sky Sports News about a day best forgotten Froome commented, ‘It was a tough race out there and really dangerous once we reached the circuit… The roads were really slippery and the rain has just been relentless today. At the end of the day I just didn’t have it. I was feeling blocked up and all stiff through my back, I think from trying to grip onto the brakes…’
