Lizzie Armitstead completes overall victory at Ladies Tour of Qatar by winning final stage

Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead won the final stage of the Ladies Tour of Qatar to complete overall victory of the four-day race.

The Boels-Dolmans rider beat her closest rival in the general classification, Chloe Hosking, in a sprint finish at Doha Corniche, with Barbara Guarischi finishing third.

The bonus seconds she picked up at the finish line handed her a 12-second overall victory over Hosking, who consolidated the runner-up spot. 

It was Armitstead’s second consecutive stage win, having taken the race lead by sprinting to victory on stage three on Thursday. 

It is the first time the 26-year-old has won a stage race in her career.

She told Cycling Weekly: “It’s a really nice surprise, I’m in better shape than I expected. I didn’t come here to win; I came here for the training, and to find out what I’m missing.”

Stage four result

1 Lizzie Armitstead (GB) Boels-Dolmans, 2:24:15
2 Chloe Hosking (Aus) Wiggle Honda, same time
3 Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Velocio-SRAM, st
4 Roxane Fournier (Fra) France, st
5 Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica-AIS, st

Final general classification

1 Lizzie Armitstead (GB) Boels-Dolmans, 9:59:25
2 Chloe Hosking (Aus) Wiggle Honda, +12secs
3 Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Boels-Dolmans, +22
4 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Velocio-SRAM, +29
5 Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica-AIS, +30