Intro:

Swedish Orica-AIS rider Emma Johansson outsprinted standings leader Lizzie Armitstead to win the Trofeo Binda-Commune di Cittiglio in northern Italy on Sunday (30th March), the second round in the 2014 UCI Women's Road World Cup.

Script:

The scenic setting of Varese in northern Italy welcomed riders from across the world for the second round of the Women's Road Cycling World Cup on Sunday.

One-hundred and thirty-nine riders took the start for the 123.7-kilometre Trofeo Binda-Commune di Cittiglio.

The six per cent average, four-kilometre long climb to Cunardo, in the first hour of racing, initially split the peloton.

A breakaway of six riders with, among others, Megan Guarnier and Lucinda Brand, managed to take 45 seconds, but were soon reeled back in.

A group of eight riders then made another surge on the last three-kilometre ascent to Orino - however this time, they wouldn't be caught.

World Cup leader Lizzie Armitstead was in the group, alongside team-mate in Ellen van Dijk.

Last year's winner Elisa Longo Borghini and Sweden's Emma Johansson were also in the decisive breakaway and in contention.

The entertaining race would be decided by an uphill sprint.

And it was Johansson who took the victory, beating Armitstead to the line.

Only millimetres separating the two women.

After three second place finishes at the event, the Swede was finally able to jump on to the top step of the podium in Italy.

Despite being pushed into second, Armitstead still leads in the overall classification.