Armitstead crash hits GB chances

A three-woman GB team is competing in Melbourne

Lizzie Armitstead crashed heavily on day two of the World Cup event in Melbourne, hitting Great Britain's chances in Saturday's team pursuit.

Armitstead needed eight stitches in her arm after crashing in her points race heat and was eliminated despite coming fifth in the final sprint.

Team-mate Katie Colcough got through to the final but could only finish 11th after gaining one point.

If Armitstead recovers she will join Colcough and Jo Rowsell in the pursuit.

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The trio won the team pursuit in the opening World Cup event in Manchester three weeks ago - one of three gold medals for Armitstead, who also triumphed in the scratch race in Melbourne on Thursday.

Rowsell - part of the trio that won the world team pursuit title last March - took the individual pursuit title on day one.

The three women are the only Brits competing in Melbourne as GB's Olympic medallists from Beijing opted to miss the event.

The three-day Melbourne competition is the second of five Track World Cup events this season, with the events in Columbia, Beijing and Copenhagen before the World Championships in Pruszkow, Poland in March.