Congrats Lizzie!

Lizzie's success in winning Team GB's first Olympic medal of 2012 - even if she was unable to beat the fantastically-talented Marianne Vos of the Netherlands - is the best advert that British women's cycling could ever have hoped to receive. Many people who watched the race will have had little or no interest in cycling prior to Bradley Wiggins' historic Tour de France victory and were probably unaware that there is a whole world of professional cycling existing just beyond the range of most media; Lizzie's triumph and appearances on the nightly news brings the sport to the public's attention and attracts new fans.

Chapeau to her and the entire women's team!

Left to right: Lizzie Armitstead, Marianne Vos and Olga Zabelinskaya