Scott Thwaites finished 45th overall in the Three Days of West Flanders tour in Belgium.

The 24-year-old, who sprinted to third place on the first stage of the tour, was eighth on the second stage, a second behind winner Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (OPQ Omega Pharma).

The Burley-in-Wharfedale rider (Team NetApp-Endura) finished behind Danny van Poppel (Trek) and Danilo Napolitano (Wanty) on stage one.

Thwaites said: “I was disappointed with my prologue (where he was 152nd) and was unsure of my form but I felt really strong and, with the help of the team, I was able to position well in the chaotic sprint.”

It was Thwaites’ first podium finish of the season.

Otley’s Lizzie Armitstead produced an impressive performance to win the Belgian one-day Omloop van het Hageland race on Sunday for the second time.

The 25-year-old Boels-Dol-mans rider edged out Sweden’s Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS) in a two-way sprint to repeat her 2012 success.

Armitstead, who won a silver medal in the women’s road race at the 2012 London Olympics, is preparing for a bid to win the Tour of Flanders on April 6.