Lizzie Armitstead is relieved to finally be able to call herself a champion after leading an England one-two ahead of retiring team-mate Emma Pooley in a sensational Commonwealth Games women’s road race on the final day of Glasgow 2014.

Pooley, in her last race before switching to endurance triathlons, played a brilliant selfless role in the 98-km event — seven laps of a 14km undulating course — and finished with silver as Armitstead triumphed.

The 25-year-old from Otley finished with silver behind Australia’s Rochelle Gilmore in Delhi four years ago and claimed Britain’s first medal of London 2012, with Olympic silver behind Marianne Vos of the Netherlands.

Now she has the title she has long craved.

“I just feel like I deserve it,” Armitstead said.

“I’ve trained so hard. I’m always on the podium, I don’t win that many races.

“It’s just a confidence thing. Once you’ve got a big title you can call yourself a champion finally.

“Hopefully it will bode well for the rest of the season.

“The psychologists tell you it should never be a relief when you win a race but to tell you the truth it is.”

Armitstead, who crashed out of contention in last Sunday’s La Course by Le Tour in Paris, had wanted a tough race and difficult conditions and the rain began to fall on the penultimate lap.

“I love the rain,” Armitstead added.

“I was just thinking of my family. When the rain started I knew they’d all be thinking: ‘Yes, this is good for Lizzie.’

“A little smile came on my face and I just thought: ‘Yes, this is perfect’.”

Pooley has had a distinguished career, including 2008 Olympic silver in the Beijing time-trial, after helping Nicole Cooke to road race gold and victory in the 2010 World Championships time-trial.

“I’m really grateful to her for sacrificing like she did,” Armitstead said.

“She has had quite a lot of stick over the years for some of her road-racing tactics but she really got it right today. “We rode a perfect race together.

“She was quite emotional. I wanted to cry but they wouldn’t come.”

Pooley was in tears as she crossed the line.

“It’s a nice way to finish, with a medal in your last race,” said Pooley.

“I knew my family and friends were watching somewhere and that means a lot to me.

“I was pretty sure Lizzie had the legs to win but plans don’t always go to plan. To hang on for silver was fantastic and unexpected.”

On her role throughout the race, the 31-year-old added: “That’s the way it is in road racing, you do your job. She did a fantastic job and I’d rather ride for Lizzie and she win than ride for me and I come second. It’s best that the team wins.”