The undoubted star attraction of the women’s road race, world champion Marianne Vos ensured she would stand on the podium on The Mall after taking second in the RideLondon Grand Prix.

Though beaten by Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle-Honda), Vos defeated British favourite Lizzie Armitstead in a repeat of her Olympic Games success in 2012.

Both Armitstead and Vos had lit up the race with early attacks, and were never far from the front in a lead group also featuring Bronzini, British criterium champion Eileen Roe and Aussie ace Tiffany Cromwell (Specialized-lululemon).

Wiggle-Honda, with a full complement of riders on their team, were able to set the pace however – making several moves off the front including Amy Roberts’ effort on the final lap.

And the result was Bronzini sprinting to victory, with Vos and Armitstead having to mark every move which went clear.

It was a deserved victory, and having enjoyed the crowds on The Mall for Britain’s biggest criterium it will be interesting to see if both Armitstead and Vos will arrive with a full team themselves for next year’s race in what could well become a prestigious, albeit non-UCI, fixture of the women’s racing calendar.