ARMITSTEAD CRASHES OUT OF WORLD CUP POINTS RACE

Elizabeth Armitstead crashed out of the points race qualifier on day two of the Melbourne world cup, ruining her chances of winning another gold medal

According to the British Cycling website, Armitstead hit the deck hard, suffering a cut to her arm that needed eight stitches.

She did get up to finish the race, and finished fifth in the final sprint, but having failed to score in any of the intermediate sprints did not progress to the final.

It was a disappointing day for the rider from Otley in Yorkshire after she won gold in the scratch race on day one. Crashing out of the points race meant she wasn?t going to be able to win three gold medals as she did in the Manchester world cup at the beginning of the month.

Her team mate Katie Colclough did qualify for the points race final, and eventually finished 11th. The gold medal was won by Evgeniya Romanyuta of Russia.

If Armitstead can recover from her injuries, she will be riding again tomorrow in the women?s team pursuit with Colclough and Jo Rowsell, who won the individual pursuit on day one.

This trio won the event at the world cup in Manchester by a comfortable margin and will be favourites to take gold again in Melbourne. They are the only three riders competing for the British team in Melbourne as the majority of British track riders take a break.

Picture courtesy of John Veage and world cup organisers

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