Lizzie Deignan wins third GP de Plouay title in British one-two

Lizzie Deignan also won the GP de Plouay in 2015 and 2017

Lizzie Deignan clinched a third GP de Plouay title as she led home fellow Briton Lizzy Banks in miserable conditions in Brittany.

Deignan, 31, was too strong for Banks in a sprint to the line with Italy's Chiara Consonni finishing third.

With the one-day race now in its 19th edition, Deignan is the only woman to win it three times.

"I'm really happy and grateful to the whole team for their effort," Deignan said.

Dutch rider Marianne Vos, Italy's Noemi Cantele and Britain's Emma Pooley have all won the event twice.

Back on the roads where she triumphed in 2015 and 2017, it was a first victory for former world champion Deignan since the Women's Tour in June last year.

Banks prompted the winning move, attacking with 35km of the 101km race remaining, with Trek-Segafredo's Deignan one of three riders to bridge over before the pair went clear.

Deignan added: "It's been a difficult season for everybody so far and we've had a lot of bad luck in the first few races.

"It's been clear to me that we've had the strongest team in all the races and finally the luck was on our side."

Deignan and Banks are now both due compete for Great Britain in Thursday's European Road Championships which is also being held in Plouay.