Words by Chris Marshall-Bell

Lizzie Armitstead is racing in the four-day Emakumeen Euskal Bira in Spain and is in strong form.

The Boels Dolmans rider finished fourth on stage one yesterday, a minute behind victor Pauline Ferrand-Prevot. The UCI 2.1 race concludes on Sunday with fellow Brit Emma Pooley also racing.

Armitstead went into the race in fine fettle after she was outsprinted by Marianna Vos to first place at Tuesday’s Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria, in Spain.

Vos, Armitstead and Emma Johansson all contested the sprint but Yorkshire girl Armitstead had to settle for second.

For the second successive week the best male result on the continent belonged to Welshman Daniel Pearson.

Italy-based Pearson finished second in the Coppa della Pace UCI 1.2 race, narrowly denied a place on the top podium spot by one second. 20-year-old Pearson, who had a 12th-placed finish last week, rides for Zappi’s Racing Team.