Hannah Barnes takes national road race title
Last Updated: 26/06/16 2:19pm
Hannah Barnes edged out sister Alice to become the British women's road race champion after a sprint finish in Stockton-on-Tees.
The winner only returned from a six-month injury absence in April but did just enough to fend off her younger sibling who finished runner-up for the second year in a row.
However, 20-year-old Alice had the consolation of retaining the under-23 title, while Lucy Garner took bronze.
As many as 13 riders contested the sprint finish after remaining clear of the peloton.
Dame Sarah Storey led a solo breakaway and, after being caught and initially dropped by 12 riders, managed to claw her way back into the leading group.
But there was disappointment for reigning world and national champion Lizzie Armitstead who was forced to pull out on the morning of the race due to an illness.
Champion Hannah, 23, said: "It's quite a fine line between being patient and making sure you go with the right moves.
"Thankfully it was a pretty small group that got away so it was easiest to mark and go with the moves.
"Coming into the circuits it was pretty active and I had to make sure I was with everyone that went.
"I didn't expect Alice to be so close to me really. I haven't raced with Alice in a long time so it was really nice to have her there.
"For her to have the under-23 jersey as well, we have a very happy mum and dad."
