Majerus wins stage one of the Aviva Women's Tour as Armitstead leads the British charge

Majerus wins stage one of the Aviva Women's Tour as Armitstead leads the British charge

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Christine Majerus sprinted to victory in Norwich to clinch the opening stage of the Aviva Women's Tour as world champion Lizzie Armitstead took the Best British Rider jersey.

Majerus, the Luxembourg national champion, riding in the Boels Dolmans colours, took her first UCI Women's WorldTour victory, pipping Marianne Vos and Giorgia Bronzini as Cylance Pro Cycling's Alison Tetrick was caught in the final 100-metres of the stage into Norwich city centre.

The 31-year-old American looked set for victory after spending the final 21-kilometres in a solo break on the Norfolk roads. At one point, her lead was almost two minutes, but on the approach to the centre of Norwich and the uphill drag to the finish line, the Cylance rider was overhauled, holding on to finish eighth, just ahead of a six second time gap, having to settle for the day’s combativity prize.

As well as earning the yellow jersey for the win, Majerus also claimed the Chain Reaction Cycles Points Jersey, with her stage win giving her the advantage over Vos, with the two level on 15-points apiece.

Lizzie Armitstead wins Best British Rider

The top British rider on the day was world champion Lizzie Armitstead in 18th, a result which earned her the Adnams Best British Rider jersey. Great Britain Cycling Team’s Grace Garner, the youngest rider in the competition, was the best performer in the national jersey finishing 34th, pipping team-mate Annasley Park by one place.

Dutch rider Ilona Hoeksma of the Parkhotel Valkenburg team holds a three point advantage in the Strava Queen of the Mountains competition over Orica AIS rider Taylor Wiles, while Team Liv Plantury's Floortje Mackaij wears the Best Young Rider Jersey, taking a three second advantage over Rossella Ratto into day two of the Aviva Women's Tour.

Results

Highlights of stage one will be shown on ITV4 at 9pm on Wednesday 15 June, with a repeat on Thursday 16 June at 12.40pm. The programme will also be available on-demand via the ITV Hub catch-up service.

Day two sees the peloton head to Warwickshire for the first time in the race’s history. The 140km route takes the riders past the Meriden National Cycling Memorial and world famous castles; Kenilworth and Warwick. After a substantial day of climbing, the longest stage of the Tour will finish in Shakespeare’s birthplace, marking the playwright’s 400th anniversary.

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