Lizzie Armitstead Cyclist
Elizabeth Mary Armitstead (born 18 December 1988, Otley) is a British track and road racing cyclist. She is a member of British Cycling's Olympic Podium Programme and has represented Great Britain internationally. Armitstead took up cycling in 2004 after British Cycling's Olympic Talent Team visited her school, Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley. She has won a silver medal in the Scratch Race at the Junior World Track Championships in 2005, she was U23 European Scratch Race Champion in 2007 and 2008, and came second in the Points Race in 2007. Armitstead was a member of the gold medal winning team pursuit squad at the 2009 Track World Championships, her second appearance at a senior world championship event. She also competed in the scratch race, where despite being brought down in the closing stages of the race, jumped back on to claim the silver medal. She completed the championships with a full set of medals, winning bronze in the points race whilst riding with her right wrist numb and strapped up — she was only able to move her forefinger and thumb. In 2009 she joined the Lotto-Belisol cycling team and rode a number of top level road races. She won the under 23 category of the British National Road Race Championships and the silver medal in the senior category after some controversy. In 2010 she rode for Cervélo TestTeam, staying with the franchise in its new formation as Garmin-Cervélo throughout 2011. Following the discontinuation of the Garmin Cervélo women's team, Armitstead will be riding for the AA Drink-Leontien. nl team in 2012.
