Women’s Olympic road race: Rio 2016 – live!
- Updates from the 141km road race to Copacabana Beach
- Armitstead has more than hills to climb after fraught week
- Rio Olympics live – all the latest from day two!
- Email niall.mcveigh@theguardian.com or tweet @niallmcveigh
As they reach the first climb, Armistead is forced to pull over with a mechanical issue. She’ll get a bike change and will have to fight to rejoin the main bunch. She’s not helped by her British team-mate Emma Pooley upping the pace as they reach the first short, sharp climb. She doesn’t get away but stretches the bunch all the way down the hill.
Still a gentle pace early on here, with Anna van der Breggen, a former La Course winner and among the favourites, leading the pack. The USA, a team reportedly at odds over tactics, with all four riders fancying their medal hopes, have Kristin Armstrong involved at the front.
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