Great Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead is already focusing on adding Olympic gold to the rainbow jersey after a phenomenal win in the Road Cycling World Championships.
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The 26-year-old will wear the world champion’s white jersey with rainbow bands for the next 12 months after a sensational win in Saturday’s 130-kilometre race in Richmond.
Armitstead fulfilled a lifelong dream after a series of near misses in the World Championships, adding to her 2012 Olympic silver medal and 2014 Commonwealth Games gold, plus two successive World Cup series wins.
Rio is now the major target for the Yorkshirewoman, who won Britain’s first medal of London 2012.
“That would surpass this if I could achieve that,” Armitstead said. “That will be my focus now for the next 12 months. All in for Rio.”
She added: “I can’t get my head around it yet, really. I’m just so focused on the process all the time.
“Crossing the line and being world champion, I’ve always dreamt about it and now I’ve done it. It’s quite a surreal feeling, but obviously very special. Very happy.”
Armitstead was pictured grasping her mouth in an emotional celebration after her near misses, particularly last year in Ponferrada, when a tactical hesitation proved costly.
“I’ve got in trouble from a few people for not putting my hands up in the air,” she added. “It was shock. You’ve got all that 130km of being focused and as soon as you cross the line it takes a few seconds to realise what’s happened.”