Olympic road race silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead out-sprinted her rivals to win the Trofeo Alfredo Binda, the second round of the 2015 UCI women’s World Cup, in Italy.
Armitstead was crowned overall World Cup champion last year and looked strong throughout after getting involved a six-rider breakaway.
And after 123.7 kilometres and five climbs, she edged out world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Anna Van Der Breggen in the charge for the line, securing her fourth win of the year in the process.
Elsewhere, after his impressive E3 Harelbeke victory 48 hours earlier, double Olympic champion Geraint Thomas took a memorable third place in a brutal Gent Wevelgem.
Team Sky rider Thomas got involved in the key breakaway but his hopes of a victory were ended when Luca Paolini decisively struck for the finish in the final kilometres.
It was a memorable edition of the classic race, with terrible conditions forcing many - including Sir Bradley Wiggins - to retire. Thomas was blown off his bike and into a ditch by one gust of wind in a clip that soon went viral.
"That was an incredible day in the saddle, I've never experienced anything like it," said Thomas.
"It was a battle to just stay on the road, which I didn't quite manage."
© Sportsbeat 2015