Despite a medal collection which is the envy of many a professional cyclist, Lizzie Armitstead admits she still struggles to get used to being labelled one of the best in the world.

Last year the 26-year-old sealed Commonwealth Games road race gold in Glasgow to add to the silver won in Delhi four years earlier.

Between those two medals came the silver she claimed in front of home fans at the London Olympics – the first medal won by Britain at the 2012 Games.

She is also a three-time world silver medallist on the track as well as the current women’s road World Cup champion.

However, despite the medals Armitstead is still hungry for more – most notably silverware on the road at World Championships level.

Last year saw her get her tactics wrong as she finished seventh, and she admits she is driven to keep going until she can finally climb the world medal rostrum.

“A world championship medal on the road is something that I'm missing from my CV,” she said.

"I wouldn't be happy to retire until I've achieved at least a medal anyway.

"To think that I'm one of the best in the world at something is still hard to get my head around.

"I do have to give myself a kick and say - when I'm surprised at podium results - why am I surprised? I am one of the best in the world and it's a position I should get used to being in."

Armitstead has already started the season well, winning the Tour of Qatar while the first World Cup race of the season, the Ronde van Drenthe, takes place in the Netherlands on Saturday.

But it is the Tour of Flanders in Belgium on April 4 which is currently taking up the majority of her thoughts.

"Flanders is an iconic race. When you win Flanders you're one of cycling's greats," she added.

"It's just a hard person that wins it. A Yorkshire lass should win it.”

© Sportsbeat 2015