Lizzie Armitstead won a thrilling bunch finish to claim victory in the women's elite race at the World Road Cycling Championships on Saturday.

The Briton had spent the majority of 129.8 kilometre route in the group, but made her move in the final kilometre in Richmond, Virginia.

Armitstead had Anna van der Breggen of Netherlands in close proximity, but ultimately it was the 26-year-old who crossed the line first to win the rainbow jersey.

"This is the big one, you get to wear the jersey," Armitstead, who was in tears as she crossed the line, said. 

"The rainbow is most special thing in cycling. It's a dream come true. I just couldn't believe it, I didn't get to celebrate. 

"I really was going all the way for that line. It was such a strange sprint, I was on the front, I was leading it out, and I was just waiting for the rush to come, but it never came. Everyone was just sprinting alongside me. It was just perfect."

Megan Garnier of United States was third ahead of Italian Elisa Longo Borghini and Emma Johansson of Sweden.

Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of France came home in sixth.