A quick start to the race, with winds bellowing on the Rio shoreline, made for some frantic early racing.

Armitstead suffered an early mechanical and had to chase back on – with team-mate Emma Pooley not realising initially and continuing to set the pace.

Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) was first to get a gap on the peloton, while a dangerous chase group featuring – among others – Ellen van Dijk (Netherlands), Georgia Bronzini (Italy) and Kristin Armstrong (USA) set off in pursuit.

Pooley was among those to do the chasing, before setting off in pursuit herself – sitting up only when Vos bridged across.

Kopecky’s solo break was ended on the second lap of the Grumari circuit – the catch made on the Grumari climb, with the chasers also swallowed up.

The descent caused some splits to form, but the race came back together – and stayed together despite some counter-attacks – on the run-in to the final climb.

Armitstead was in the second group, but the gap to Van der Breggen, Longo Borghini and the resurgent Johansson proved too much.

With Abbott caught and passed in sight of the line, it was left to those three to contest the spring for the line and it was the Dutchwoman who emerged victorious.

Armitstead won the sprint for fifth place, but just like London four years ago it was a Dutchwoman standing atop the final podium.

Rio 2016 Olympic Games: women’s road race – result

1) Anna van der Breggen – Netherlands – 3.51.27hrs
2) Emma Johansson – Sweden – ST
3) Elisa Longo Borghini – Italy
4) Mara Abbott – USA +4”
5) Elizabeth Armitstead – Great Britain +20”
6) Katarzyna Niewiadoma – Poland – ST
7) Flavia Oliveira – Brazil
8) Jolanda Noff – Switzerland
9) Marianne Vos – Netherlands – 1.14
10) Ashleigh Moolman – South Africa – ST