Britain are riding for Ben Swift. He is a decent sprinter who likes a hill or two, which is good news, considering there will be 28 to negotiate before the finish in Ponferrada.
No doubt the Australian, Spanish, Italian, French, German and American riders will want to have their say, as well as Portugal's defending champion Rui Costa.
Thanks for reading today and I'll be back from 13:00 BST on Sunday when the BBC television coverage gets going. Be sure to join me.
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And that folks is that. I'd echo Boardman's words. Lizzie Armitstead is unlucky to come away without a medal today. A terrific race though and I'll be back on Sunday for more of the same as the men do battle over the same course, albeit they will do double the distance.
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GB's 1994 world time trial champion Chris Boardman: What a tactically excellent worlds road race by @L_Armitstead, did everything right. Sometimes it just isn't meant to be.
Result
1. Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) 3:29:21"
2. Lisa Brennauer (Ger) ST
3. Emma Johansson (Swe)
4. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita)
5. Tiffany Cromwell (Aus)
6. Shelley Olds (USA)
7. Elizabeth Armitstead (GB)
8. Linda Villumsen (NZ)
9. Hanna Solovey (Ukr)
10. Marianne Vos (Ned)
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One other interesting point to note is that Vos finished 10th. It is the first time since winning the race in 2006 that the three-time world champion has finished outside the top two.
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Rochelle Gilmore
Owner and manager of Wiggle Honda cycling team on BBC TV
"Lizzie couldn't have done anything differently. She did everything she could and she will be disappointed but she's had a fantastic season."
German sensation
In the middle of all that, a great finish from Germany's Lisa Brennauer who caps a stunning World Championships with a silver medal in the road race. Brennauer won the individual time trial in midweek and last Sunday's team time trial.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"I can understand her frustration but the race didn't pan out in her way."
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Lizzie Armitstead on BBC Two: "I put all my eggs in one basket on the last climb. I got Bronzini's wheel but messed it up. The race was just too easy - that sounds ridiculous but it was.
"The rain was a good opportunity but it needed to be harder earlier in the race and everyone played the sprinter card.
"I've worked really hard and am in good shape but that's cycling. It was a negative race and I was like "come on let's go!" but no-one did. Maybe one day I will learn."
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Armitstead looks devastated as she talks with BBC Sport's Jill Douglas. The British rider finished seventh. She positioned herself brilliantly throughout the race and it looked race over with four out front in the final kilometre but once they all started looking at each other, it opened the door for the chasing bunch.
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Vos hit the front in the final 200m but Ferrand Prevot came out of her slipstream to take the title. Lisa Brennauer of Germany took second with Johansson third.
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Ferrand Prevot was the woman Armitstead feared most and the French woman breaks down into tears as she finally realises she is the world champion. It was a photo finish on the line.
CHAMPAGNE MOMENT
Pauline Ferrand Prevot wins the world title.
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There's a bit of cat and mouse with everyone looking over their shoulders and here comes Bronzini and it's suddenly a bigger sprint than anyone would have liked. Final 500m and where is Armitstead?
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Just 2km remaining and it's a flat run-in to the finish. Borghini goes first and Vos responds. Armtistead happy to sit at the back of the quartet as they hit the final kilometre.
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And Johansson steps on the pedals on the dry descent. She opens up a couple of bike lengths. Vos, with Armitstead following as they bomb into Ponferrada at 80km/h.
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Four riders are clear. Armitstead, Vos, Borghini and Johansson. Four into three doesn't go though. Who will miss out on a medal? 3.5km to go.
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Worrack goes again but Evelyn Stevens covers her move and takes off on her own. Vos and Armitstead continue to track each attempt to break clear.
Emma Johansson is the next to try her luck and break the field. Armitstead and Vos again cover and then Armitstead makes her move. 4.5km to go as they reach the summit.
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Armitstead is third, with Vos tracking her every move. Shelley Olds, a sprint specialist, is in Vos's wheel. If the American can get a decent tow up this final hill she could well be in the mix. Bronzini is also still lurking.
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Nobody is taking any chances on the descent. A crash here and your chances of winning are gone. The speed is a good 10km/h down on when the road was dry.
Just the final kilometre-long climb to Mirador and descent into Ponferrada to come. Who is going to make the move on the ascent? 6.5km from the finish.
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The road is still greasy as they go over the top of Confederacion for the final time but thankfully the rain is staying away. The riders are strung out in a long line, with Armitstead in the front six as they hit the descent, with 8km remaining.
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Another German attack and Chantal Blaak of the Dutch team has to cover, with Vos dropping back. Armitstead immediately gets on Blaak's wheel.
Worrack goes again, with Ellen van Dijk of the Dutch team. All these attacks are hurting the legs, trying to ride the finish out of the sprinters, but everyone is soon back together as they hit the 10km to go banner.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"Lizzie has been so well positioned all race and so patient, it's been incredible to see."
Attacks starting to come
The bike camera following the race has a couple of spots of moisture on the lens as they start the climb. Worrack makes a huge move. She is riding for German team-mate Claudia Lichtenberg. France's Pauline Ferrand Prevot shows her face for the first time.
But here goes America's Evelyn Stevens. She quickly opens up a lead of several bike lengths but she is considered too dangerous to let go and her move is countered by Vos.
That is good news for Armitstead who doesn't have to waste as much energy as she gets into the Dutch champion's wheel.
Leading quintet caught
The catch is made and we are all back together again. The roads are dry at the bottom of the climb to Confederacion but there is definitely rain in the air.
Armitstead takes a sip of juice as she follows German rider Trixi Worrack. The British rider did not panic when that break went away and she is once again superbly placed. Just 13km remaining but two climbs to get over.
In the peloton
This is not good news for Lizzie Armitstead. There are just 15km remaining and Australia's Neylan and Italy's Ratto are two of the riders in the break as they head to the castle for the final time.
But here comes the peloton, with the Americans leading the way. The five out front are going to be caught imminently.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"The only saving grace for Lizzie is that the Americans have missed this break and they will want to bring it back."
Final lap
I can hear the bell go to signify the start of the final lap and here we are, back in the action. Five riders have opened up a lead of a couple of seconds and the other 13 behind are looking at each other. Armitstead is not in this front quintet and she is going to have to do the work to close it down.
There is an Italian, Dutch, German and Australian rider in the break, so their team-mates in the group with Armitstead will not be bothered about chasing.
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Vos has decided that it is time to put the hammer down and scampers away. My colleagues on the television decide it's time to move the coverage from BBC 1 to BBC 2 and I momentarily lose pictures...
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Rossella Ratto takes up the pace in the peloton and Armitstead immediately jumps in her wheel as they catch Neylan as they go over the top of Mirador for the penultimate time. Marianne Vos goes with Armitstead and suddenly the leading bunch is down to 15 riders.
The descent is thankfully dry as they zip back into Ponferrada at speeds approaching 80km/h.
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All of the riders are taking the descent cautiously. Nobody can afford to fall off at this stage of the race. Neylan leads by a handful of seconds and is continually looking over her shoulder as she starts the climb to Mirador.
Armitstead is out of her saddle at the front of the chasing bunch. New Zealand's Linda Villumsen, a five-time time trial medallist at the Worlds, is also having a decent race and is up near the front.
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Australia's Rachel Neylan races clear of the peloton over the top of the climb and she is gingerly pedalling down the descent, feathering her brakes. Neylan negotiates the tricky right-hander over the dam at snail's pace, lets out a huge sigh of relief and then pushes on the pedals. There is just 25km remaining.
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The rain might not be a bad thing for Armitstead. Who could forget that memorable finish in the road race at the London Olympics?
Britain's Anna Christian suddenly puts in a spurt on the ascent. Her move is covered and she falls back alongside Armitstead. Hannah Barnes is the next to have a go.
The British riders are trying to stretch and tire Armitstead's rivals. The riders are pedalling through a huge thunderstorm, with spray shooting up off tyres, giving everyone a soaking.
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Here's a move from the British riders. That looks like Hannah Barnes who takes up the chase and quickly catches Powers and it is back to the status quo.
And here comes the rain.
In the peloton
A Dutch rider has been sent to the front of the peloton, which contains 60 riders, to help with the chase of Powers. Russia also have a rider to the fore and the peloton has the American well within their sights as they toil up to Confederacion.
There is a very dark cloud hovering over this section of the course.
Garner's gaffe
After retiring from the race Britain's Lucy Garner told BBC Sport: "I was only down once, it was a silly crash and I wasn't allowed to use the team cars to pace me back to the main bunch so I put in a big effort to get back to the main bunch and by the time I'd done that I was dead. I needed everything to go well and it didn't."
In the break
Powers hits the bottom of the climb to Confederacion and she has a lead of around a dozen seconds. It's certainly not a race-winning break at this stage but Powers is a time trial specialist and used to riding solo.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"She should be climbing a bit quicker because she's a bit lighter than when she started the race, having lost a bit of bark."
American Power
American Alison Powers has jumped clear of the peloton as they take a couple of right-angled corners through the centre of Ponferrada. Powers is immediately recognisable because she has half of her shorts missing and a nasty graze on her left buttock after being involved in that crash on lap two.
Two laps to go
Lizzie Armitstead is in conversation with British team-mate Annie Last as she crosses the start-finish line for the fifth time. Just two laps, or 36km remaining and Simon Brotherton on commentary reports that there is a rather nasty-looking rain cloud approaching the course. That could spice things up.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"The only thing that concerns me with Lizzie's sprint is that her kick is not that good. If she wants to go head-to-head with other riders in the final kilometre she needs to go first because once she's up to speed she's quick but it's getting up to that speed."
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There are just 40km remaining in the race as they riders begin the descent back into Ponferrada. The Italians again put a couple of riders on the front of the bunch but nobody is prepared to really put the hammer down. This is looking like a last-lap showdown.
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The fifth climb to Mirador sees the peloton all back together. Will we see Bronzini instruct a team-mate to lead off down the descent into Ponferrada again?
"Lizzie would have wanted a harder race," says Rob Hayles on commentary and right on cue, the Otley racer stretches her legs, stomps on her pedals and moves to the front of the race before looking round to see if anyone would react. Several riders did, wary of the threat offered by the British rider.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"The further into this race that we go and the more the riders have left in their legs it means the fireworks are going to be bigger and brighter on the final lap. I certainly wouldn't want to be riding that final descent if it carries on like this."
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The pace looks like it has been upped in the peloton as they reach the top of Confederacion and Bronzini is sitting second wheel behind Italian team-mate Tatiana Guderzo, who won the 2009 world title, as they speed down the descent.
OUCH!
Another minor spill in the peloton. Britain's Annie Last collides with Italy's Elena Cecchini and both come off their bikes. Last, a mountain biker jumps back to her feet, gives her pedals a quick spin before hopping back on and pedalling away.
Cecchini is a little slower to get going but thankfully is fine and back chasing.
In the break
Kern takes a bottle of fluids from one of her team helpers on the side of the road as she pushes on up the climb to Confederacion. Her lead is hovering around the 10-second mark as Simon Brotherton reports that British riders Lucy Garner and Alice Barnes have pulled out of the race.
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Rochelle Gilmore
Owner and manager of Wiggle Honda cycling team on BBC TV
"There is still a big peloton but we're expecting something to happen on this lap, with just three to go. The Italians are still gathered around Bronzini, who will be growing in confidence with the racing as it is. Shelley Olds of America is another sprinter who is still there but they will both find it tough if someone does light it up on the climbs."
In the peloton
Here comes the peloton, sweeping up past the castle as they start the climb to Confederacion. The number of people on the grassy bank in front of the castle has swelled and with it the level of noise encouraging the riders as they hit 50km to go.
Three laps to go
Kern crosses the line for the fourth time after one hour, 59 minutes and 50 seconds of racing. The Slovenian is 16 seconds ahead of the chasing bunch which contains all the race favourites. Just 54km or so remaining. Who is going to be the brave one and make the first move?
In the peloton
The peloton closes the gap on the descent to Ponferrada. The final 4km of each lap, and thus into the finish line when we get to the last lap, is downhill for the opening couple of kilometres and then reasonably flat for the run-in to the finish.
In the break
Spela Kern is pushing on out front and has opened a gap of 35 seconds over the peloton as she goes up to Mirador. She has 57.5km to survive if she is to take an unexpected victory.
Johansson to be the bride?
One other rider to keep an eye on today is Sweden's Emma Johansson. She was second last year to Vos in Florence and third in 2010.
This year, she finished second in the World Cup behind Armitstead and was second in the Tour of Britain. The 31-year-old is Sweden's reigning national road and time trial champion - can she conquer the world at last?
She set off with five team-mates to help her but one, Emilia Fahlin, who was expected to be a big help on the climbs, has already dropped out of the peloton.
Is Vos in or out of form?
Rochelle Gilmore
Owner and manager of Wiggle Honda cycling team on BBC TV
"There has been a big question mark over Vos because she pulled out of a couple of races leading up to this event. We've heard so many stories but there was a report from her brother before today's race that she was just playing it safe and focusing on the World title. There is also talk that she was playing it safe by dropping away during the team time trial last Sunday. She knows how to peak for a World Championships."
In the break
Slovenian rider Spela Kern makes a bid for freedom on the climb to Confederacion and quickly opens up a 20-second gap over the peloton. The riders in the main bunch will not be too unhappy to see a lone rider out there. There are 65km remaining in the race. Far too far for a solo breakaway to succeed.
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The Germans are on the front on the peloton, driving the pace. Time trial champion Lisa Brennauer has been doing a lot of the work. They obviously have a gameplan but they have to be careful not to over exert themselves.
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Thirteen riders have officially dropped out of the race, according to Simon Brotherton on race commentary. None of the names he mentions are American, which suggests the rider who was prone in the ditch must be back up and pedalling. I wonder if that was Alison Powers.
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L Higgins: Going to be tight between Vos and Armitstead. Vos is on her day in a class above, Armitstead needs to keep Vos in very close order.
Four laps to go
With the Italians grouping near the front as they complete lap three of seven, it's perhaps a good time to take a look at the prospects of their riders.
Giorgia Bronzini, 31, is more of a sprinter and twice a winner of this race, in 2010 and 2011. She outsprinted Vos and Armitstead on The Mall to win the RideLondon Women's Grand Prix in August.
She is comfortably getting over the climbs so far but will she continue to do so as the laps tick by?
She has 22-year-old Elisa Longo Borghini in her squad of six. Borghini was third in the 2012 race and can climb, winning a couple of mountains classifications this year so is a good fall back if racing gets tough.
Rossella Ratto, 20, of Italy was third last year. She won stage two of the women's Tour of Britain on her way to finishing third overall.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"There will be a few more gaps opening up between the riders on this descent as they try to get their confidence back. There will also be fatigue setting in. You can't let big gaps form because it will take too much out of you to chase them down."
Italians moving up
All of the Italians have made their way up to the front of the peloton, perhaps wary of the crash on the previous lap. If you are new to road racing, it is always better to try and ride near the front to lessen the chances of being caught up in an accident.
Several Australian, Dutch and German riders are also vying to lead the peloton. Britain's Lizzie Armitstead is also well-positioned as they go over the top of Mirador and head back down to Ponferrada on the section of the course where the big accident happened.
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Rochelle Gilmore
Owner and manager of Wiggle Honda cycling team on BBC TV
"We saw Bronzini fell quite hard and we didn't know if she was going to get back on and cycling."
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The leading riders are hitting 70km/h as they weave down the descent from Confederacion, before braking sharply to take a tight right-hand corner over a dam, that has caught out several riders in the earlier junior races.
Just 80km remaining as they head up Mirador.
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A number of riders have pulled out of the race as they reached the start-finish line and are receiving medical attention.
American champion Alison Powers has a ripped suit, road rash and is way off the pace but she still manages to offer a smile to the TV camera that is thrust into her face as she continues to push on, before coverage cuts to mechanics inspecting a couple of mangled wheels.
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It looked like the peloton knocked off the pace a little there to allow those delayed by the crash to catch up. It's one of the nice unwritten rules in professional cycling - riders don't like taking advantage of misfortune suffered by their rivals in the event of a crash.
Vos and Bronzini back
The official timecheck over the start-finish line has Vos at 43 seconds behind the leading group of 50 or so riders, with Bronzini one minute, 57 seconds down. Britain's Lucy Garner is a further minute down.
Vos has some Dutch team-mates with her who will be helping to pace her back to the peloton. And as I type that, the world champion makes contact with the leading group, as does Bronzini, as the riders embark upon the third ascent to Confederacion.
Five laps to go
Britain's Lizzie Armitstead was untroubled by the accident. As was her team-mate Hannah Barnes, who is leading the peloton as they embark on the third lap.
Marianne Vos was slightly delayed by the crash, while Italy's double world champion Giorgia Bronzini, and one of the pre-race favourites, crosses the start-finish line a couple of minutes further down.
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There are definitely a couple of Canadian riders down, a couple of Belgians and a Norwegian are also sitting on the side of the road. An American rider is motionless in the roadside ditch, with a team mechanic by her side. More on the fallers as I get it.
The crash was triggered by two riders coming together towards the front of the peloton on the left-hand side of the road.
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There has been a massive crash in the peloton. There are dozens of riders littering the road on the descent from Mirador.
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Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
While the riders hit the ascent to Mirador, let's take a look at the French rider who Armitstead has picked out as a potential threat.
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, 22, won the French national road and time trial races this year, the one-day classic La Fleche Wallonne and was second behind Vos at the women's Giro d'Italia - the Giro Rosa. She also won the national mountain bike championships.
"She's definitely my favourite," said Armitstead. "So I'm not going to base my race around Vos, but I'm certainly not going to take my eye off her, because she's someone who can win World Championships."
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The riders are speeding down the descent from Confederacion and there are what look like big orange cushions stuck to the cliff faces to save riders who overcook a corner.
"You don't have to get it too wrong to get it completely wrong," says Rob Hayles on commentary before adding that he would be trying not to look at them because that would set you off thinking about crashing.
Five minutes of fame
Israel's Shani Bloch has made a brief foray off the front of the bunch on the ascent to Confederacion. She gave a wee punch of delight to members of her support staff on the side of the hill but she is soon swallowed up by the peloton.
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No sight of defending champion and three-time winner Marianne Vos yet. The 27-year-old Dutch rider no doubt sheltering in the peloton, knowing she has no need to show her face just yet.
While there have been recent question marks over her form, Vos has still had an excellent 2014, winning her seventh cyclo-cross world title before going on to claim the inaugural women's Tour of Britain, the Giro Rosa and the one-day La Course by Le Tour de France.
However, Armitstead told BBC Sport: "Vos at a World Championships is always the one to beat but she's definitely not as good as she normally is. She's beatable."
OUCH!
There is a crash in the middle of the peloton and the rider down is Britain's Lucy Garner. The 20-year-old is quickly back on to her feet but looks to have injured her left hip and is grimacing while she waits for a GB mechanic to help put her chain bike on.
Hannah Barnes drops back out of the peloton to wait for Garner and help pace her back to the main bunch.
Six laps to go
The riders have completed the first of the 18km laps and Armitstead is well placed towards the front of the peloton in 26th place. There is still no break with German riders doing most of the legwork on the front of the bunch as they meander through the streets of Ponferrada before heading back to the climb of Confederacion.
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Double junior world champion Garner and Hannah Barnes helped Armitstead win Commonwealth gold in Glasgow over the summer, while Alice Barnes and Last, with their mountain bike background, should be strong on the ascents and descents.
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Armitstead has five other British riders to help support her during the race. It is their job to work for their team leader. Collecting drinks bottles, helping with pace setting, offering wheels if Armitstead were to suffer a puncture and so on.
The quintet of helpers are Lucy Garner, Anna Christian, Hannah Barnes and mountain bike specialists Alice Barnes and Annie Last.
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Speaking to the BBC before the race, Armitstead said: "The course is really hard. It's relentless and that's what suits me. Repeated efforts with minimal recovery is what suits me and what I will try and benefit from.
"I came to recce the course in June which is the first time I've done that prior to a World Championships so I feel more prepared.
"It's been the best season of my career so far. People around me are saying 'Lizzie it's your course' so I guess I should listen to them."
Going for gold
With 115km of racing to go, it's probably about time we had a look at some of the main contenders for the race victory.
And there's no better place to start than Lizzie Armitstead, who is aiming to become the fourth British winner of the world title. Beryl Burton, Mandy Jones and Nicole Cooke went before her.
The 25-year-old from Otley in Yorkshire is in great form having won the women's World Cup this year, with a race to spare, and took the Commonwealth Games title.
However, she is yet to produce in a World Championships with a best finish of seventh in 2011. In 2012 she finished second to Marianne Vos in the road race at the London Olympics.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"Sometimes it can be a struggle on the first couple of climbs on the opening laps as riders try to settle into a rhythm. There is more than 2,000m of ascending over the course of the race though so I'd expect riders to start tumbling out the back as the laps pass by."
Race profile
It has been a fairly sedate start to the race and the entire peloton is all together as they hit the bottom of the first of two climbs that punctuate each of the seven 18km circuits.
The ascent to Confederacion is around 5km in length with an altitude increase of around 200m. A brief descent follows before a shorter climb to Mirador and another descent back into Ponferrada to cross the start-finish line.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Vos struggling for form?
The first topic for discussion on commentary is the form of Marianne Vos, which is a bit of an unknown - she was surprisingly dropped by her professional team in the team time trial last Sunday.
Vos has been on the top two steps of the podium each year since winning her first title in 2006. Five second places followed before victories in 2012 and 2013.
Live now
The 134 riders have just started the 127.4km race in Ponferrada. Live commentary from Simon Brotherton, Rochelle Gilmore and Rob Hayles.
Final warm-up
British CyclingCopyright: British Cycling
British Cycling: GBs Lizzie Armitstead and Lucy Garner warming up.
Get involved
The race is expected to take around three-and-a-half hours so that gives you plenty of time to get involved in this live text commentary.
I'll take a closer look at some of the riders once the race has got going and settled down. But in the meantime, do you agree with Lizzie Armitstead that this is the best chance she has ever had to win the title? Or do you think that Dutch sensation Marianne Vos to win a third successive crown and fourth in total? Will it be Giorgia Bronzini's day to win a third title, or maybe Sweden's Emma Johansson will finally win gold.
Text me on 81111, remembering to put Cycling at the beginning of your message and include your name. Or tweet me at #bbccycling
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Simon Brotherton
BBC Sport cycling commentator
Lizzie Armitstead should be in the mix today in the World Championship road race. Live on BBC. 1st hr on red button at 1pm then BBC1 at 2pm.
Live on the BBC
Hello and welcome to live TV and text coverage of the women's road race at the World Championships, which are being held in Ponferrada, Spain.
The 127.4km race gets under way at 13:00 BST and you can follow the action by clicking on the link at the top of this page.
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Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
"If I don't win I will be disappointed. It's the best chance I've ever had," Britain's Lizzie Armitstead told BBC Sport when asked whether 2014 would be the year she wins the women's road race at the World Championships.
Live Reporting
Peter Scrivener
All times stated are UK
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Latest PostPost update
Britain are riding for Ben Swift. He is a decent sprinter who likes a hill or two, which is good news, considering there will be 28 to negotiate before the finish in Ponferrada.
No doubt the Australian, Spanish, Italian, French, German and American riders will want to have their say, as well as Portugal's defending champion Rui Costa.
Thanks for reading today and I'll be back from 13:00 BST on Sunday when the BBC television coverage gets going. Be sure to join me.
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And that folks is that. I'd echo Boardman's words. Lizzie Armitstead is unlucky to come away without a medal today. A terrific race though and I'll be back on Sunday for more of the same as the men do battle over the same course, albeit they will do double the distance.
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GB's 1994 world time trial champion Chris Boardman: What a tactically excellent worlds road race by @L_Armitstead, did everything right. Sometimes it just isn't meant to be.
Result
1. Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) 3:29:21"
2. Lisa Brennauer (Ger) ST
3. Emma Johansson (Swe)
4. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita)
5. Tiffany Cromwell (Aus)
6. Shelley Olds (USA)
7. Elizabeth Armitstead (GB)
8. Linda Villumsen (NZ)
9. Hanna Solovey (Ukr)
10. Marianne Vos (Ned)
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One other interesting point to note is that Vos finished 10th. It is the first time since winning the race in 2006 that the three-time world champion has finished outside the top two.
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Rochelle Gilmore
Owner and manager of Wiggle Honda cycling team on BBC TV
"Lizzie couldn't have done anything differently. She did everything she could and she will be disappointed but she's had a fantastic season."
German sensation
In the middle of all that, a great finish from Germany's Lisa Brennauer who caps a stunning World Championships with a silver medal in the road race. Brennauer won the individual time trial in midweek and last Sunday's team time trial.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"I can understand her frustration but the race didn't pan out in her way."
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Lizzie Armitstead on BBC Two: "I put all my eggs in one basket on the last climb. I got Bronzini's wheel but messed it up. The race was just too easy - that sounds ridiculous but it was.
"The rain was a good opportunity but it needed to be harder earlier in the race and everyone played the sprinter card.
"I've worked really hard and am in good shape but that's cycling. It was a negative race and I was like "come on let's go!" but no-one did. Maybe one day I will learn."
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Armitstead looks devastated as she talks with BBC Sport's Jill Douglas. The British rider finished seventh. She positioned herself brilliantly throughout the race and it looked race over with four out front in the final kilometre but once they all started looking at each other, it opened the door for the chasing bunch.
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Vos hit the front in the final 200m but Ferrand Prevot came out of her slipstream to take the title. Lisa Brennauer of Germany took second with Johansson third.
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Ferrand Prevot was the woman Armitstead feared most and the French woman breaks down into tears as she finally realises she is the world champion. It was a photo finish on the line.
CHAMPAGNE MOMENT
Pauline Ferrand Prevot wins the world title.
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There's a bit of cat and mouse with everyone looking over their shoulders and here comes Bronzini and it's suddenly a bigger sprint than anyone would have liked. Final 500m and where is Armitstead?
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Just 2km remaining and it's a flat run-in to the finish. Borghini goes first and Vos responds. Armtistead happy to sit at the back of the quartet as they hit the final kilometre.
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And Johansson steps on the pedals on the dry descent. She opens up a couple of bike lengths. Vos, with Armitstead following as they bomb into Ponferrada at 80km/h.
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Four riders are clear. Armitstead, Vos, Borghini and Johansson. Four into three doesn't go though. Who will miss out on a medal? 3.5km to go.
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Worrack goes again but Evelyn Stevens covers her move and takes off on her own. Vos and Armitstead continue to track each attempt to break clear.
Emma Johansson is the next to try her luck and break the field. Armitstead and Vos again cover and then Armitstead makes her move. 4.5km to go as they reach the summit.
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Armitstead is third, with Vos tracking her every move. Shelley Olds, a sprint specialist, is in Vos's wheel. If the American can get a decent tow up this final hill she could well be in the mix. Bronzini is also still lurking.
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Nobody is taking any chances on the descent. A crash here and your chances of winning are gone. The speed is a good 10km/h down on when the road was dry.
Just the final kilometre-long climb to Mirador and descent into Ponferrada to come. Who is going to make the move on the ascent? 6.5km from the finish.
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The road is still greasy as they go over the top of Confederacion for the final time but thankfully the rain is staying away. The riders are strung out in a long line, with Armitstead in the front six as they hit the descent, with 8km remaining.
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Another German attack and Chantal Blaak of the Dutch team has to cover, with Vos dropping back. Armitstead immediately gets on Blaak's wheel.
Worrack goes again, with Ellen van Dijk of the Dutch team. All these attacks are hurting the legs, trying to ride the finish out of the sprinters, but everyone is soon back together as they hit the 10km to go banner.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"Lizzie has been so well positioned all race and so patient, it's been incredible to see."
Attacks starting to come
The bike camera following the race has a couple of spots of moisture on the lens as they start the climb. Worrack makes a huge move. She is riding for German team-mate Claudia Lichtenberg. France's Pauline Ferrand Prevot shows her face for the first time.
But here goes America's Evelyn Stevens. She quickly opens up a lead of several bike lengths but she is considered too dangerous to let go and her move is countered by Vos.
That is good news for Armitstead who doesn't have to waste as much energy as she gets into the Dutch champion's wheel.
Leading quintet caught
The catch is made and we are all back together again. The roads are dry at the bottom of the climb to Confederacion but there is definitely rain in the air.
Armitstead takes a sip of juice as she follows German rider Trixi Worrack. The British rider did not panic when that break went away and she is once again superbly placed. Just 13km remaining but two climbs to get over.
In the peloton
This is not good news for Lizzie Armitstead. There are just 15km remaining and Australia's Neylan and Italy's Ratto are two of the riders in the break as they head to the castle for the final time.
But here comes the peloton, with the Americans leading the way. The five out front are going to be caught imminently.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"The only saving grace for Lizzie is that the Americans have missed this break and they will want to bring it back."
Final lap
I can hear the bell go to signify the start of the final lap and here we are, back in the action. Five riders have opened up a lead of a couple of seconds and the other 13 behind are looking at each other. Armitstead is not in this front quintet and she is going to have to do the work to close it down.
There is an Italian, Dutch, German and Australian rider in the break, so their team-mates in the group with Armitstead will not be bothered about chasing.
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Vos has decided that it is time to put the hammer down and scampers away. My colleagues on the television decide it's time to move the coverage from BBC 1 to BBC 2 and I momentarily lose pictures...
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Rossella Ratto takes up the pace in the peloton and Armitstead immediately jumps in her wheel as they catch Neylan as they go over the top of Mirador for the penultimate time. Marianne Vos goes with Armitstead and suddenly the leading bunch is down to 15 riders.
The descent is thankfully dry as they zip back into Ponferrada at speeds approaching 80km/h.
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All of the riders are taking the descent cautiously. Nobody can afford to fall off at this stage of the race. Neylan leads by a handful of seconds and is continually looking over her shoulder as she starts the climb to Mirador.
Armitstead is out of her saddle at the front of the chasing bunch. New Zealand's Linda Villumsen, a five-time time trial medallist at the Worlds, is also having a decent race and is up near the front.
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Australia's Rachel Neylan races clear of the peloton over the top of the climb and she is gingerly pedalling down the descent, feathering her brakes. Neylan negotiates the tricky right-hander over the dam at snail's pace, lets out a huge sigh of relief and then pushes on the pedals. There is just 25km remaining.
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The rain might not be a bad thing for Armitstead. Who could forget that memorable finish in the road race at the London Olympics?
Britain's Anna Christian suddenly puts in a spurt on the ascent. Her move is covered and she falls back alongside Armitstead. Hannah Barnes is the next to have a go.
The British riders are trying to stretch and tire Armitstead's rivals. The riders are pedalling through a huge thunderstorm, with spray shooting up off tyres, giving everyone a soaking.
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Here's a move from the British riders. That looks like Hannah Barnes who takes up the chase and quickly catches Powers and it is back to the status quo.
And here comes the rain.
In the peloton
A Dutch rider has been sent to the front of the peloton, which contains 60 riders, to help with the chase of Powers. Russia also have a rider to the fore and the peloton has the American well within their sights as they toil up to Confederacion.
There is a very dark cloud hovering over this section of the course.
Garner's gaffe
After retiring from the race Britain's Lucy Garner told BBC Sport: "I was only down once, it was a silly crash and I wasn't allowed to use the team cars to pace me back to the main bunch so I put in a big effort to get back to the main bunch and by the time I'd done that I was dead. I needed everything to go well and it didn't."
In the break
Powers hits the bottom of the climb to Confederacion and she has a lead of around a dozen seconds. It's certainly not a race-winning break at this stage but Powers is a time trial specialist and used to riding solo.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"She should be climbing a bit quicker because she's a bit lighter than when she started the race, having lost a bit of bark."
American Power
American Alison Powers has jumped clear of the peloton as they take a couple of right-angled corners through the centre of Ponferrada. Powers is immediately recognisable because she has half of her shorts missing and a nasty graze on her left buttock after being involved in that crash on lap two.
Two laps to go
Lizzie Armitstead is in conversation with British team-mate Annie Last as she crosses the start-finish line for the fifth time. Just two laps, or 36km remaining and Simon Brotherton on commentary reports that there is a rather nasty-looking rain cloud approaching the course. That could spice things up.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"The only thing that concerns me with Lizzie's sprint is that her kick is not that good. If she wants to go head-to-head with other riders in the final kilometre she needs to go first because once she's up to speed she's quick but it's getting up to that speed."
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There are just 40km remaining in the race as they riders begin the descent back into Ponferrada. The Italians again put a couple of riders on the front of the bunch but nobody is prepared to really put the hammer down. This is looking like a last-lap showdown.
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The fifth climb to Mirador sees the peloton all back together. Will we see Bronzini instruct a team-mate to lead off down the descent into Ponferrada again?
"Lizzie would have wanted a harder race," says Rob Hayles on commentary and right on cue, the Otley racer stretches her legs, stomps on her pedals and moves to the front of the race before looking round to see if anyone would react. Several riders did, wary of the threat offered by the British rider.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"The further into this race that we go and the more the riders have left in their legs it means the fireworks are going to be bigger and brighter on the final lap. I certainly wouldn't want to be riding that final descent if it carries on like this."
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The pace looks like it has been upped in the peloton as they reach the top of Confederacion and Bronzini is sitting second wheel behind Italian team-mate Tatiana Guderzo, who won the 2009 world title, as they speed down the descent.
OUCH!
Another minor spill in the peloton. Britain's Annie Last collides with Italy's Elena Cecchini and both come off their bikes. Last, a mountain biker jumps back to her feet, gives her pedals a quick spin before hopping back on and pedalling away.
Cecchini is a little slower to get going but thankfully is fine and back chasing.
In the break
Kern takes a bottle of fluids from one of her team helpers on the side of the road as she pushes on up the climb to Confederacion. Her lead is hovering around the 10-second mark as Simon Brotherton reports that British riders Lucy Garner and Alice Barnes have pulled out of the race.
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Rochelle Gilmore
Owner and manager of Wiggle Honda cycling team on BBC TV
"There is still a big peloton but we're expecting something to happen on this lap, with just three to go. The Italians are still gathered around Bronzini, who will be growing in confidence with the racing as it is. Shelley Olds of America is another sprinter who is still there but they will both find it tough if someone does light it up on the climbs."
In the peloton
Here comes the peloton, sweeping up past the castle as they start the climb to Confederacion. The number of people on the grassy bank in front of the castle has swelled and with it the level of noise encouraging the riders as they hit 50km to go.
Three laps to go
Kern crosses the line for the fourth time after one hour, 59 minutes and 50 seconds of racing. The Slovenian is 16 seconds ahead of the chasing bunch which contains all the race favourites. Just 54km or so remaining. Who is going to be the brave one and make the first move?
In the peloton
The peloton closes the gap on the descent to Ponferrada. The final 4km of each lap, and thus into the finish line when we get to the last lap, is downhill for the opening couple of kilometres and then reasonably flat for the run-in to the finish.
In the break
Spela Kern is pushing on out front and has opened a gap of 35 seconds over the peloton as she goes up to Mirador. She has 57.5km to survive if she is to take an unexpected victory.
Johansson to be the bride?
One other rider to keep an eye on today is Sweden's Emma Johansson. She was second last year to Vos in Florence and third in 2010.
This year, she finished second in the World Cup behind Armitstead and was second in the Tour of Britain. The 31-year-old is Sweden's reigning national road and time trial champion - can she conquer the world at last?
She set off with five team-mates to help her but one, Emilia Fahlin, who was expected to be a big help on the climbs, has already dropped out of the peloton.
Is Vos in or out of form?
Rochelle Gilmore
Owner and manager of Wiggle Honda cycling team on BBC TV
"There has been a big question mark over Vos because she pulled out of a couple of races leading up to this event. We've heard so many stories but there was a report from her brother before today's race that she was just playing it safe and focusing on the World title. There is also talk that she was playing it safe by dropping away during the team time trial last Sunday. She knows how to peak for a World Championships."
In the break
Slovenian rider Spela Kern makes a bid for freedom on the climb to Confederacion and quickly opens up a 20-second gap over the peloton. The riders in the main bunch will not be too unhappy to see a lone rider out there. There are 65km remaining in the race. Far too far for a solo breakaway to succeed.
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The Germans are on the front on the peloton, driving the pace. Time trial champion Lisa Brennauer has been doing a lot of the work. They obviously have a gameplan but they have to be careful not to over exert themselves.
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Thirteen riders have officially dropped out of the race, according to Simon Brotherton on race commentary. None of the names he mentions are American, which suggests the rider who was prone in the ditch must be back up and pedalling. I wonder if that was Alison Powers.
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L Higgins: Going to be tight between Vos and Armitstead. Vos is on her day in a class above, Armitstead needs to keep Vos in very close order.
Four laps to go
With the Italians grouping near the front as they complete lap three of seven, it's perhaps a good time to take a look at the prospects of their riders.
Giorgia Bronzini, 31, is more of a sprinter and twice a winner of this race, in 2010 and 2011. She outsprinted Vos and Armitstead on The Mall to win the RideLondon Women's Grand Prix in August.
She is comfortably getting over the climbs so far but will she continue to do so as the laps tick by?
She has 22-year-old Elisa Longo Borghini in her squad of six. Borghini was third in the 2012 race and can climb, winning a couple of mountains classifications this year so is a good fall back if racing gets tough.
Rossella Ratto, 20, of Italy was third last year. She won stage two of the women's Tour of Britain on her way to finishing third overall.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"There will be a few more gaps opening up between the riders on this descent as they try to get their confidence back. There will also be fatigue setting in. You can't let big gaps form because it will take too much out of you to chase them down."
Italians moving up
All of the Italians have made their way up to the front of the peloton, perhaps wary of the crash on the previous lap. If you are new to road racing, it is always better to try and ride near the front to lessen the chances of being caught up in an accident.
Several Australian, Dutch and German riders are also vying to lead the peloton. Britain's Lizzie Armitstead is also well-positioned as they go over the top of Mirador and head back down to Ponferrada on the section of the course where the big accident happened.
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Rochelle Gilmore
Owner and manager of Wiggle Honda cycling team on BBC TV
"We saw Bronzini fell quite hard and we didn't know if she was going to get back on and cycling."
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The leading riders are hitting 70km/h as they weave down the descent from Confederacion, before braking sharply to take a tight right-hand corner over a dam, that has caught out several riders in the earlier junior races.
Just 80km remaining as they head up Mirador.
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A number of riders have pulled out of the race as they reached the start-finish line and are receiving medical attention.
American champion Alison Powers has a ripped suit, road rash and is way off the pace but she still manages to offer a smile to the TV camera that is thrust into her face as she continues to push on, before coverage cuts to mechanics inspecting a couple of mangled wheels.
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It looked like the peloton knocked off the pace a little there to allow those delayed by the crash to catch up. It's one of the nice unwritten rules in professional cycling - riders don't like taking advantage of misfortune suffered by their rivals in the event of a crash.
Vos and Bronzini back
The official timecheck over the start-finish line has Vos at 43 seconds behind the leading group of 50 or so riders, with Bronzini one minute, 57 seconds down. Britain's Lucy Garner is a further minute down.
Vos has some Dutch team-mates with her who will be helping to pace her back to the peloton. And as I type that, the world champion makes contact with the leading group, as does Bronzini, as the riders embark upon the third ascent to Confederacion.
Five laps to go
Britain's Lizzie Armitstead was untroubled by the accident. As was her team-mate Hannah Barnes, who is leading the peloton as they embark on the third lap.
Marianne Vos was slightly delayed by the crash, while Italy's double world champion Giorgia Bronzini, and one of the pre-race favourites, crosses the start-finish line a couple of minutes further down.
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There are definitely a couple of Canadian riders down, a couple of Belgians and a Norwegian are also sitting on the side of the road. An American rider is motionless in the roadside ditch, with a team mechanic by her side. More on the fallers as I get it.
The crash was triggered by two riders coming together towards the front of the peloton on the left-hand side of the road.
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There has been a massive crash in the peloton. There are dozens of riders littering the road on the descent from Mirador.
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While the riders hit the ascent to Mirador, let's take a look at the French rider who Armitstead has picked out as a potential threat.
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, 22, won the French national road and time trial races this year, the one-day classic La Fleche Wallonne and was second behind Vos at the women's Giro d'Italia - the Giro Rosa. She also won the national mountain bike championships.
"She's definitely my favourite," said Armitstead. "So I'm not going to base my race around Vos, but I'm certainly not going to take my eye off her, because she's someone who can win World Championships."
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The riders are speeding down the descent from Confederacion and there are what look like big orange cushions stuck to the cliff faces to save riders who overcook a corner.
"You don't have to get it too wrong to get it completely wrong," says Rob Hayles on commentary before adding that he would be trying not to look at them because that would set you off thinking about crashing.
Five minutes of fame
Israel's Shani Bloch has made a brief foray off the front of the bunch on the ascent to Confederacion. She gave a wee punch of delight to members of her support staff on the side of the hill but she is soon swallowed up by the peloton.
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No sight of defending champion and three-time winner Marianne Vos yet. The 27-year-old Dutch rider no doubt sheltering in the peloton, knowing she has no need to show her face just yet.
While there have been recent question marks over her form, Vos has still had an excellent 2014, winning her seventh cyclo-cross world title before going on to claim the inaugural women's Tour of Britain, the Giro Rosa and the one-day La Course by Le Tour de France.
However, Armitstead told BBC Sport: "Vos at a World Championships is always the one to beat but she's definitely not as good as she normally is. She's beatable."
OUCH!
There is a crash in the middle of the peloton and the rider down is Britain's Lucy Garner. The 20-year-old is quickly back on to her feet but looks to have injured her left hip and is grimacing while she waits for a GB mechanic to help put her chain bike on.
Hannah Barnes drops back out of the peloton to wait for Garner and help pace her back to the main bunch.
Six laps to go
The riders have completed the first of the 18km laps and Armitstead is well placed towards the front of the peloton in 26th place. There is still no break with German riders doing most of the legwork on the front of the bunch as they meander through the streets of Ponferrada before heading back to the climb of Confederacion.
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Double junior world champion Garner and Hannah Barnes helped Armitstead win Commonwealth gold in Glasgow over the summer, while Alice Barnes and Last, with their mountain bike background, should be strong on the ascents and descents.
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Armitstead has five other British riders to help support her during the race. It is their job to work for their team leader. Collecting drinks bottles, helping with pace setting, offering wheels if Armitstead were to suffer a puncture and so on.
The quintet of helpers are Lucy Garner, Anna Christian, Hannah Barnes and mountain bike specialists Alice Barnes and Annie Last.
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Speaking to the BBC before the race, Armitstead said: "The course is really hard. It's relentless and that's what suits me. Repeated efforts with minimal recovery is what suits me and what I will try and benefit from.
"I came to recce the course in June which is the first time I've done that prior to a World Championships so I feel more prepared.
"It's been the best season of my career so far. People around me are saying 'Lizzie it's your course' so I guess I should listen to them."
Going for gold
With 115km of racing to go, it's probably about time we had a look at some of the main contenders for the race victory.
And there's no better place to start than Lizzie Armitstead, who is aiming to become the fourth British winner of the world title. Beryl Burton, Mandy Jones and Nicole Cooke went before her.
The 25-year-old from Otley in Yorkshire is in great form having won the women's World Cup this year, with a race to spare, and took the Commonwealth Games title.
However, she is yet to produce in a World Championships with a best finish of seventh in 2011. In 2012 she finished second to Marianne Vos in the road race at the London Olympics.
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Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser
"Sometimes it can be a struggle on the first couple of climbs on the opening laps as riders try to settle into a rhythm. There is more than 2,000m of ascending over the course of the race though so I'd expect riders to start tumbling out the back as the laps pass by."
Race profile
It has been a fairly sedate start to the race and the entire peloton is all together as they hit the bottom of the first of two climbs that punctuate each of the seven 18km circuits.
The ascent to Confederacion is around 5km in length with an altitude increase of around 200m. A brief descent follows before a shorter climb to Mirador and another descent back into Ponferrada to cross the start-finish line.
Vos struggling for form?
The first topic for discussion on commentary is the form of Marianne Vos, which is a bit of an unknown - she was surprisingly dropped by her professional team in the team time trial last Sunday.
Vos has been on the top two steps of the podium each year since winning her first title in 2006. Five second places followed before victories in 2012 and 2013.
Live now
The 134 riders have just started the 127.4km race in Ponferrada. Live commentary from Simon Brotherton, Rochelle Gilmore and Rob Hayles.
Final warm-up
British Cycling: GBs Lizzie Armitstead and Lucy Garner warming up.
Get involved
The race is expected to take around three-and-a-half hours so that gives you plenty of time to get involved in this live text commentary.
I'll take a closer look at some of the riders once the race has got going and settled down. But in the meantime, do you agree with Lizzie Armitstead that this is the best chance she has ever had to win the title? Or do you think that Dutch sensation Marianne Vos to win a third successive crown and fourth in total? Will it be Giorgia Bronzini's day to win a third title, or maybe Sweden's Emma Johansson will finally win gold.
Text me on 81111, remembering to put Cycling at the beginning of your message and include your name. Or tweet me at #bbccycling
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Simon Brotherton
BBC Sport cycling commentator
Lizzie Armitstead should be in the mix today in the World Championship road race. Live on BBC. 1st hr on red button at 1pm then BBC1 at 2pm.
Live on the BBC
Hello and welcome to live TV and text coverage of the women's road race at the World Championships, which are being held in Ponferrada, Spain.
The 127.4km race gets under way at 13:00 BST and you can follow the action by clicking on the link at the top of this page.
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"If I don't win I will be disappointed. It's the best chance I've ever had," Britain's Lizzie Armitstead told BBC Sport when asked whether 2014 would be the year she wins the women's road race at the World Championships.