OTLEY'S world champion Lizzie Armitstead clinched victory in the Aviva Women's Tour on the final day in Northamptonshire.
Finland's Lotta Lepisto won the sprint from the breakaway group to claim the honours in the final stage but Armitstead became the first Briton to win the title after finishing at the head of the peloton.
The margin of the Boels Dolmans Cycling rider's victory was 11 seconds over Lepisto's Cervelo-Bigla team-mate Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, with Italy's Elisa Longo Borghini third a further two seconds back.
"Being a British athlete, a British cyclist, I feel very lucky because I am part of a country that loves cycling at the moment and I hope that bubble continues," said Armitstead after her victory. "Events like this certainly help."
Armistead later tweeted: "Thanks to all the support on the side of the road over the last five days, it made me proud to be British."
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