LIZZIE ARMITSTEAD: MY RAIN DANCE...

[RoterTeufel]

LIZZIE ARMITSTEAD: MY RAIN DANCE...

LIZZIE ARMITSTEAD claims shower power helped her land Great Britain’s first medal of London 2012.

While the thousands lining the 87-mile road race route got soaked to the skin, Armitstead was singing in the rain after claiming silver. Armitstead, 23, was desperate for wet conditions.

And her rain dance did the trick as the heavens opened.

The Yorkshire girl was unable to replicate team-mate Nicole Cooke’s achievement four years ago in Beijing and was pipped to gold by pre-race favourite Marianne Vos in a sprint finish down The Mall.

While Mark Cavendish and the men’s team finished empty handed on Saturday, Armitstead’s rain-assisted medal helped lift the gloom.

“The weather was excellent,” said Armitstead, who also won Commonwealth silver two years ago.

“I’ve been praying for rain, particularly when we were in the breakaway and there was a real downpour.

“I felt great as the brake has got more chance of working in those conditions so I was really, really happy.

“I absolutely hate racing in the heat so last week when the heatwave came and everyone else was rejoicing I was not too happy about it.”