The Friends Life Women’s Tour finished anti-climactically for Otley’s Olympic Games silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead today.

The Boels-Dolmans rider, who had been battling illness and mechanical problems all week, withdrew prior to the start of the final stage due to being under the weather.

Meanwhile, Olympic and world champion Marianne Vos completed a dominant performance to win a hugely successful inaugural tour.

The Dutchwoman claimed a third successive stage success on the fifth and final day to seal overall victory in front of large crowds in Bury St Edmunds.

Vos (Rabo-Liv) won the concluding 108km stage from Harwich – and with it ten bonus seconds – to triumph overall by 30 seconds.

Wiggle-Honda’s Giorgia Bronzini was second on the day and Amy Pieters (Netherlands) third, while Emma Johansson (Orica-GreenEdge) was fifth to seal second overall. Third overall was Rossella Ratto (Estadio de Mexico-Faren).

Two-time world junior champion Lucy Garner (Great Britain) was the best-placed Briton in seventh overall, 50 seconds behind Vos.

Double Olympic track champion Laura Trott (Wiggle-Honda) was 55th overall after a heavy crash on Friday and yesterday's stage which began in her hometown of Cheshunt, while her sister Emma (Boels-Dolmans) was 60th overall before retiring after crossing the finish line in Suffolk.

Laura, 22, and Emma, 24, crossed the line together.

Vos had increased her overall lead to 19 seconds by winning yesterday's stage to Welwyn Garden City ahead of Bronzini, Garner and Johansson.