Armitstead: I'm not the favourite for brutal Rio Olympics road race
Lizzie Armitstead admits the Rio Olympic road race course does not suit her, although she believes she is still capable of winning
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Lizzie Armitstead insists that her new status as world champion does not mean she is favourite to win gold at next year's Olympic road race, but she still thinks she is capable of winning.
The Brit, who won the rainbow stripes in Richmond in September, told Sky Sports News HQ that the course in Rio more suits the climbers in the peloton.
Having claimed the World Championships title and two consecutive UCI World Cup crowns, the only medal that is missing from her impressive palmares is Olympic gold, but Armitstead admits she'll be up against it in Rio.
"The course in Rio is not ideal and doesn't suit me really," she said. "It's brutal. It's just lots and lots of climbing, and I can climb, but we are talking mountains. It's really, really difficult. I know I am capable, but I don't think I am favourite going into it.
"The pressure for me is lifted being world champion. But I don't see it as pressure being world champion in an Olympic year. It just gives me confidence that I have delivered under pressure and that I can do it again."
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
Christophe Laporte triumphs at Gent-Wevelgem in dominant Jumbo-Visma one-two
The Frenchman broke free with Wout van Aert with 52km to go
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Primož Roglič secures Volta a Catalunya title as Remco Evenepoel claims final stage
Slovenian wins overall by six seconds on stage seven in Barcelona
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
CW Live: USA Cycling announces Esports roster; Soudal Quick-Step and Israel-Premier Tech release new kit; Lizzie Deignan back racing in May; Peter Sagan 'disappointed' in Wout van Aert; Cyclist killed in London
Everything you need to know in the world of cycling this Friday
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
Lizzie Deignan: Tour de France Femmes will be 'dynamic' compared to men's Tour
Trek-Segafredo rider says that eventually she would like to see a three-week Tour for women
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Here is the Great Britain women’s team for World Championships 2020 in Imola
The swiftly re-arranged World Championships are just a few weeks away and the Great Britain women’s team has been confirmed.
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Why a women’s Tour de France next year is a no-go
With a women's Tour de France all but certain, calls for it to happen in 2021 are wide of the mark, argues Owen Rogers
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
‘I thought it was a weird sport’: Lizzie Deignan on how she started cycling on ‘Home Roads’ podcast
Lizzie Deignan as offered an honest insight into her home life, being scouted from school, and how she spent her year away from racing in the ‘Home Roads’ podcast.
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Former world champion Lizzie Deignan announces pregnancy
Lizzie Deignan and her husband Philip are due to have their first child in September
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Lizzie Deignan rethinking retirement plans
A new focus may override British rider Lizzie Deignan's original intention to bow out after the 2019 World Champs
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Lizzie Deignan has appendix removed: World Championships in doubt
British champion Lizzie Deignan says she will be taking the rest of the season 'day by day' after having appendix removed
By Nigel Wynn • Published