Commonwealth Youth Games road race champion, Laura Garner struck gold for the second time in two weeks after taking the world junior title in Rudersdal on Friday, 23 September. Garner sprinted for the finish to be crowned Junior Women's World Champion in the 70 km road race.

An early crash forced Garner to chase the peleton from behind, but the 17 year old  held her nerve in a race full of excitement and breakaway attacks.  The British worked well as a team supporting Garner to put her in contention for a final attack.  Approaching one lap to go it looked as if Rossella Ratto (Italy) and Mieke Kröger (Germany) would top the podium as they pulled away from the peleton.    But the pack drew level and with the finish line in sight Garner made the break in a six-woman sprint for the line.

The teenager from Leicestershire kicked in on the uphill finish to seal her victory

"Once I get going, I don't look where I'm going!" she said "I just head straight to the finish line."

"It was a weird sprint; by the time realised I was free I had almost stopped. I had to attack again. That's when I sprinted hard. I looked round and nobody was there, I had to celebrate, then rode it to the line. It was amazing."

"The fact I'd won only felt real on the podium, all the emotions came out, I'd never experienced anything like it. The crowds, the atmosphere, I was overcome with emotion and just started crying. It was the perfect birthday present, only a few days late."

England cycling medalistsEarlier this month Garner represented England at the Youth Games in the Isle of Man coming home with a phonomenal three gold medals. Garner won the 37.5km road race again in a dramatic sprint finish ahead of Australian Emily Roper, and team mate Hannah Barnes; and alongside Hannah Barnes and Harriet Owens secured victory for England in the team time trial and the team road race.