Vos gives Britain tactical options in road race

It's not easy being ranked as the world's top cyclist: just ask Olympic gold hopeful Marianne Vos of the Netherlands. Vos, one of the world's most decorated women cyclists, will go into the women's 140 km road race as the hot favourite on Sunday and ready to put past world and Olympic disappointment behind her. "It will be a tough race but I do not think I can be satisfied with silver or bronze," said Vos. "Am I stronger than ever? Yes, I think I can say that." Despite only finishing sixth at Beijing where Britain's Nicole Cooke took gold, Vos has a significant burden to shed. Since her maiden world title in 2006 at the tender age of 19 she has finished runner-up an amazing five times consecutively. What is frustrating for Vos is not necessarily so for her rivals. "She's got consistency on her side! She's very good," said Britain's Emma Pooley. Unfortunately, it means over 60 pairs of eyes could again be watching the Dutchwoman's every move on Sunday, giving the likes of Britain a chance to capitalise. Lizzie Armitstead is the hosts' big gold hope if the race finishes in a group sprint, while defending champion Cooke gives Britain another option. "Most people are going to be watching Marianne Vos, she's going to be heavily marked and that will be an advantage for us," said Armitstead. "At major competitions everyone's looking to Marianne Vos, which means that if there is a late breakaway everyone's looking to Marianne to close it (the gap). "I think that's the best example of why we're keeping an open tactic and why we have an advantage over the rest of the field. "That's why it's going to be a secret." Vos is not Britain's only obstacle to possibly claiming gold a day after Mark Cavendish's bid to give Britain a golden start to the Games. Giorgia Bronzini has won the past two world championships thanks to winning sprints, and her Italian team-mate Tatiana Guderzo won the 2009 edition. "She's shown that she can win in the big moments, she's a two-time world champion and she's ready for this, I'm sure," American sprint specialist Shelley Olds told AFP. Germans Judith Arndt and Ina Teutenberg are, along with Vos, Cooke and the Italians, the most experienced racers in the women's peloton. But Olds believes the Italians' long love affair with the sport -- and their ability to race as a cohesive unit -- could give them the edge. "I think that's one of the most dangerous things about the Italians is they're very smart and they race as a team. And that's how they win," she added. Only five nations, including Britain, have the full complement of four riders for the race, which features two laps of the Box Hill circuit which the men will race five times. The race will be tactically difficult to predict and read, meaning the teams who have several options for the finale should be favoured. Whatever the scenario, Newton feels Britain have it covered. "We're looking for results, whether it will be Lizzie or Nicole," he said. "We've got Nicole, former champion, to use. She will be given the rein of attacking and riding from an aggressive point of view. "If that succeeds, we're very happy for Nicole to go for glory and ride for that win. If it came down to a sprint, Lizzie is the leader."