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Laws storms to GB women's road race glory

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1-2-3 for AA Drink-Leontien.nl riders

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Sharon Laws (AA Drink leontien.nl) celebrates as she crosses the line to win the championships

Sharon Laws (AA Drink leontien.nl) celebrates as she crosses the line to win the championships (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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Sharon Laws (AA Drink) leads the front of race after the climbs

Sharon Laws (AA Drink) leads the front of race after the climbs (Image credit: CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)
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The winner's podium for AA Drink leontien.nl teammates Emma Pooley, Sharon Laws and Lizzie Armitstead

The winner's podium for AA Drink leontien.nl teammates Emma Pooley, Sharon Laws and Lizzie Armitstead (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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Celebration time as AA Drink leontien.nl teammates Emma Pooley, Sharon Laws and Lizzie Armitstead spray the champagne

Celebration time as AA Drink leontien.nl teammates Emma Pooley, Sharon Laws and Lizzie Armitstead spray the champagne (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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A bit of fun as Emma Pooley spots that Sharon Laws has been given a U23 winner's jersey

A bit of fun as Emma Pooley spots that Sharon Laws has been given a U23 winner's jersey (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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Katie Colclough (Specialized-lululemon) in the women's under 23 champion's jersey

Katie Colclough (Specialized-lululemon) in the women's under 23 champion's jersey (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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Emma Trott (Dolmans Boels) in the chase group

Emma Trott (Dolmans Boels) in the chase group (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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The leaders still together with three laps to go

The leaders still together with three laps to go (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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Emma Pooley (AA Drink leontien.nl) leads teammates Lizzie Armitstead and Sharon Laws with Nikki Harris (Telenet Fidea) on the third lap

Emma Pooley (AA Drink leontien.nl) leads teammates Lizzie Armitstead and Sharon Laws with Nikki Harris (Telenet Fidea) on the third lap (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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The bunch rolls out for the start at Ampleforth Abbey and College in North Yorkshire

The bunch rolls out for the start at Ampleforth Abbey and College in North Yorkshire (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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Emma Pooley (AA Drink leontien.nl) drives the break

Emma Pooley (AA Drink leontien.nl) drives the break (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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Lizzie Armitstead (AA Drink leontien.nl) leads the breakaway quartet

Lizzie Armitstead (AA Drink leontien.nl) leads the breakaway quartet (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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Sarah Storey (Escentual For VioRed) is the lone chaser behind the lead group

Sarah Storey (Escentual For VioRed) is the lone chaser behind the lead group (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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Nicole Cooke (Team Faren - Honda) and Sarah Byrne (Cycle Premier - Kovert) head the main chase group in pursuit of the four leaders

Nicole Cooke (Team Faren - Honda) and Sarah Byrne (Cycle Premier - Kovert) head the main chase group in pursuit of the four leaders (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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Nicole Cooke (Team Faren Honda) heads the chasers in pursuit of the four leaders

Nicole Cooke (Team Faren Honda) heads the chasers in pursuit of the four leaders (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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Sharon Laws climbs the hill at the finish for the final time to win the gold medal -

Sharon Laws climbs the hill at the finish for the final time to win the gold medal - (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
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Lizzie Armitstead (AA Drink leontien.nl) outsprints teammate Emma Pooley to win the silver medal

Lizzie Armitstead (AA Drink leontien.nl) outsprints teammate Emma Pooley to win the silver medal (Image credit: Gerry McManus)

Sharon Laws was crowned Great Britain's Women’s National Road Race Champion after soloing to victory in the title race in North Yorkshire on Sunday.

The 37-year-old from Cheltenham, who was overlooked for the Team GB Olympic squad earlier this month, led a 1-2-3 for the AA Drink-Leontien.nl team, with Lizzie Armitstead taking second, just ahead of Emma Pooley at the end of the 107-kilometre event based around Ampleforth.

Laws escaped from the bunch with Armitstead and Pooley as well as Nikki Harris (Young Telenet) early in the race, and they quickly established a big lead over the chasing bunch who were struggling to maintain the same pace.

With four minutes’ lead, the group were being chased by Sarah Storey (Escentual For Viored), and although she never made contact with the leaders managed to maintain a gap of around a minute.

But with a lap and a half (around 15 miles) to go Laws attacked and ploughed up the road powerfully on a climb, quickly establishing a lead of around a minute. Armitstead and Pooley responded, but the injection of pace proved a little too much for Harris who was left behind.

By the line, Laws had a lead of more than a minute, while Armitstead took second from Pooley.

Full Results
1Sharon Laws (AA Drink leontien.nl)3:11:50
2Elizabeth Armitstead (AA Drink leontien.nl)0:01:36
3Emma Pooley (AA Drink leontien.nl)0:01:41
4Nikki Harris (Young Telenet Fidea Cycling Team)0:02:43
5Sarah Storey (For Viored)0:03:52
6Nicole Cooke (Team Faren - Honda)0:09:02
7Catherine Williamson (Team Bizhub-SCF)0:09:04
8Katie Colclough (Specialized-lululemon)
9Emma Trott (Dolmans Boels)0:09:44
10Natalie Creswick (Mulebar Girl)0:09:51
11Sarah Byrne (For Viored)0:10:08
12Claire Galloway (For Viored)0:16:34
13Penny Rowson (Matrix Fitness - Prendas)
14Annabel Simpson (Matrix Fitness - Prendas)0:16:36
15Gemma Neill (Team Leslie Bike Shop - Right Move Windows)0:16:40
16Rebecca Heath (VC St Raphael)0:16:48
17Corrine Hall (Node 4 Giordana Womens Team)0:18:03
18Eileen Roe (Team Ibis Cycles)
19Laura Massey (Vivelo-Bikes/Inverse Cyclaim RT)
20Hannah Barnes (Team Ibis Cycles)0:18:09
21Lowri Bunn (Abergavenny Road Club)0:18:13
22Delia Beddis (Vivelo-Bikes/Inverse Cyclaim RT)0:18:14
23Nicola Juniper (Corvida Allpress)0:18:22
24Kayleigh Brogan (City of Edinburgh RC)0:18:28
25Karla Boddy (High Wycombe Cycling Club)0:19:10

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