Unstoppable Vos wins women's world road race title

Women's road race photo gallery by Graham Watson>>

Marianne Vos (Netherlands) won the women's road race World Championship title on home soil on Sunday, with yet another dominant performance to match her gold-medal winning ride in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Vos put in a trademark devastating attack on the final ascent of the Cauberg climb from an escape group to distance fellow breakaway companions Rachel Neylan (Australia) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy), who came home in second and third place.

Britain's best placed rider was Emma Pooley, who came home in 15th spot in a chase group at four minutes and 37 seconds. Current British road race champion Sharon Laws came in slightly further back at 4-58.

Vos's feat of winning the Olympic road race and World titles in the same season matches that of Britain's Nicole Cooke in 2008. Cooke finished this year's Worlds road race in 60th spot.

Olympic silver medallist and British hope Lizzie Armitstead was a non-starter after having withdrawn her name from the entry list due to illness.

Result

World Championship women's road race

1. Marianne Vos (Netherlands) in 3-14-29

2. Rachel Neylan (Australia) at 10 secs

3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) at 18 secs

4. Amber Neben (USA) at 33 secs

5. Anna Van Der Breggen (Netherlands) at 55 secs

6. Rossella Ratto (Italy) at 3-40

7. Linda Villumsen (New Zealand) at 04-37

8. Judith Arndt (Germany)

9. Emma Johansson (Sweden)

10. Paulina Brzezna-Bentkowska (Poland) at same time

Other

15. Emma Pooley (Great Britain) at 4-37

39. Sharon Laws (Great Britain) at 4-58

60. Nicole Cooke (Great Britain) at 5-39

Nicole Cooke helps in the attempt to chase down the escape group

Vos had time to grab a flag before celebrating her win

Marianne Vos tops the podium

Related links

Women's road race photo gallery by Graham Watson

Road World Championships 2012: Coverage index