OTLEY'S world road race champion Lizzie Armitstead has been voted Glamour magazine's Sports Personality of the Year for 2015.

Armitstead, who celebrated her 27th birthday yesterday, won gold in the women's road race at the World Championships in the United States in September.

Ahe also took the British title this year, just 11 days after being taken to hospital following a crash on the women's tour, and retained her women's World Cup crown.

The Olympic silver medallist is only the fourth British woman to win the world title, following former champions Beryl Burton, Mandy Jones and Nicole Cooke.

Armitstead is a contender for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year crown tomorrow and her hopes of clinching the award have received a boost after she secured Glamour's top prize for the top sportswoman in Britain.

Winning with more than 24 per cent of the vote, Armitstead saw off competition from the likes of fellow Yorkshire sporting stars, boxer Nicola Adams and world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill, as her closest rival came second with just under 16 per cent of readers' votes.

"Throughout our 'Say No to Sexism in Sport' campaign, time and again we have highlighted the disconnect between British women's outstanding sporting achievements and the often embarrassing lack of recognition," Glamour editor Jo Elvin said.

"Glamour has made fantastic strides in redressing this balance over the last 12 months and our SPOTY list is a testament to the brilliance of so many of our country's female stars - often outshining the achievements of more celebrated men.

"I'd like to congratulate Lizzie on this well-deserved win, but also every inspirational sportswoman on our list."

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