The race was won by Italy's Giorgia Bronzini (pictured) who edged out Holland's Marianne Vos and Sweden's Emma Johansson in a thrilling and dramatic sprint finish.

Cooke, the Olympic gold medallist and 2008 world champion, and Germany's Judith Arndt had broken clear of the pack with just over five kilometres remaining in the 127.2km race, made up of eight circuits.

Heading into the closing two kilometres the pair had an 11 seconds lead over the chasing pack of around 20 riders and seemingly the gold and silver medals between them.

Arndt was the first to commit with 500 metres to go but while Cooke responded and got back on her wheel the peloton was closing in on them fast and Bronzini, Vos and Johannson all swept past in the final 100 metres.

Cooke and Arndt tried to kick again but had to settle for fourth and fifth respectively.

"Come the last lap I knew I'd be up there and in a race like we had today you had to take your chance when it came," said Cooke.

"We went as hard as we could.

"Coming up the finish I couldn't have given anymore - I had given everything.

"It was so incredibly close - but that's how it is in road racing."

Bronzini was understandably emotional afterwards, dedicating her win to Franco Ballerini, the former manager of the Italian national cycling squad who died earlier this year after a rallying accident.

"I'm so happy to have won today," said Bronzini.

"That victory is for Franco Ballerini and my Italian team. We are a very close team and this means a lot."

For Britain it was a disappointing end to a day that had promised so much as the team had showed up well throughout.



Emma Pooley, fresh from her time trial win on Wednesday (September 29), had momentarily gone clear of the field on the penultimate lap but thereafter she worked selflessly for team-mate Cooke before coming home in the front group in 20th place, just behind Lizzie Armitstead in ninth and Sharon Laws in 16th while Catherine Williamson was 1:42 back in 29th.

The story of the race earlier in the day was a lone break from American Katheryn Curi Mattis who stretched her lead to just under three minutes at one point.

But peloton, led by Britain, Germany and the Netherlands, gradually whittled that advantage down and the catch was made on the penultimate lap, with Pooley taking the opportunity to launch her own counterattack.


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