Women's Tour: Rossella Ratto wins stage two to take lead

Rossella Ratto outsprinted fellow Italian Susanna Zorzi to win stage two of the Women's Tour of Britain in Bedford and take the overall race lead.

Olympic and world champion Marianne Vos led the chasing peloton over the line to claim third, six seconds adrift.

Lucy Garner, who raced through her home village Cosby during the stage, was the first British rider home in fifth.

Lizzie Armitstead was seventh and is the overall best-placed British rider, 14 seconds back with three stages left.

Olympic silver medallist Armitstead is fifth after the opening two stages, one place and one second ahead of Hannah Barnes, who also finished in the main bunch and was credited with the same time as third-placed Vos.

Garner, who is 10th overall after following Dutch rider Amy Pieters over the line, tweeted: "Can't believe all the support I got on the stage today. What an amazing feeling being able to race through my home village. Thanks everyone!"

Estado de Mexico Faren rider Ratto, 20, broke away from the peloton early on in the 118.5km race from Hinckley but was eventually caught by her compatriot Zorzi before taking the win as the duo held off the chasing pack.

Ratto leads Zorzi by five seconds in the overall standings, with Vos a further second back in third.

Stage one winner Emma Johansson of Sweden was 11th and drops to fourth overall, seven seconds back.

Friends Life Women's Tour stage two results:

1. Rossella Ratto (Ita/Estado de MexicoFaren) 3 hrs 02 mins 02 seconds

2. Susanna Zorzi (Ita/Astana) same time

3. Marianne Vos (Ned/Rabo-Liv) +6"

4. Amy Pieters (Ned/Netherlands) same time

5. Lucy Garner (GB/Great Britain), same time

6. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita/Wiggle Honda) same time

7. Lizzie Armitstead (GB/Boels-Dolmans) same time

8. Aurore Verhoeven (Fra/Lointek) same time

9. Aude Biannic (Fra/Lointek) same time

10. Chloe Hosking (Aus/Hitec products) same time

General classification

1. Rossella Ratto (Ita/Estado de MexicoFaren) 5 hrs 30 mins 18 seconds

2. Susanna Zorzi (Ita/Astana)+5"

3. Marianne Vos (Ned/Rabo-Liv) +6"

4. Emma Johansson (Swe/Orica AIS) +7"

5. Lizzie Armitstead (GB/Boels Dolmans) +14"