LIZZIE Armitstead achieved another of her career goals on Sunday with victory in the Tour of Flanders.

Now Otley's world road race champion can set her sights on her top target – winning Olympic gold in Rio.

The 27-year-old continued her golden spring by holding off Swedish champion Emma Johansson in a sprint which required a photo finish to record her fourth victory in six races as she returned to the top of the UCI World Series.

The Boels-Dolmans ace said: “I’m delighted but it’s also a big relief. I’ve got that win, that career goal done, and now it’s all about shifting focus. It’s a good way to start putting the spring behind me and thinking about Rio.”

Armitstead, who also won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche and Trofeo Binda, has proved conclusively that she can deliver when the pressure is greatest.

“It’s really special to win, and to win in the rainbow jersey is even more special,” said Armitstead. “It was the perfect day.”

Armitstead had excellent support from her team but the finish was all down to her holding her nerve.

"It was a really strange race with just two in the front,” said Armitstead. “We had to commit. I didn’t leave anything for the sprint. Emma’s fast, and I didn’t underestimate her.”

“It was a poker game in the end,” she added. “I didn’t have any radio, so I didn’t know what was happening. I needed her to open the sprint before me, and she did. At that point, it’s not about who is fastest, it’s who is freshest. I was tired, and you could see that in my sprint. It was a race all the way to the line.”

Armitstead's next race will be La Flèche Wallone on April 20 which is the next in the UCI World Series.

Burley-in-Wharfedale's Scott Thwaites was 20th in the men's race as he continued his good early-season form.