OTLEY’s road cycling world champion Lizzie Armitstead is going head-to-head with Jessica Ennis-Hill and Charlotte Dujardin for a top award.

The 26-year-old - who stormed to world glory in Richmond, Virginia last month - is one of six names battling it out for the Sunday Times & Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year award.

She joins Ennis-Hill, Dujardin (dressage), Lizzy Yarnold (skeleton), Rachel Atherton (mountain biking), and Bianca Walkden (taekwondo) on the shortlist.

And the Commonwealth champion and 2015 World Cup winner could join an illustrious list of recipients when the awards are announced, and broadcast live on Sky Sports 1, on Friday, November 6.

Previous winners of the main award include Sally Gunnell, Denise Lewis, Dame Kelly Holmes, Zara Phillips, Victoria Pendleton, Ennis-Hill and Christine Ohuruogu. Olympic and world dressage champion, Dujardin, was crowned the 2014 Sportswoman of the Year.

Armistead’s stunning victory at the UCI World Road Championships – described by her as “a dream come true” – makes the speedster a serious contender for the top prize.

On that occasion, the Olympic silver medalist mounted a late charge over the 130km course to catch the race leaders and made her move on the final climb, holding off Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen by a wheel in a dramatic sprint finish.

Her achievement in becoming just the fourth British woman to win the road race world title was heralded by the great and the good of British cycling, including Mark Cavendish and Dame Sarah Storey.

The Sunday Times & Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards, now in their 28th year, recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution to sport made by elite performers, coaches, administrators, community volunteers and inspirational women.

Barney Francis, Sky Sports managing director, said: “Congratulations to everyone on the shortlist. The calibre of nominations showed just what another brilliant year of women’s sport it has been.”