(CNN) -- Lizzie Armitstead won the first medal of the London Games for the hosts but had to settle for silver behind Dutchwoman Marianne Vos in cycling's women's road race Sunday.
Vos proved the stronger in the sprint for the line on The Mall to win her second Olympic gold medal after claiming the track points title in Beijing four years ago.
Russia's Olga Zabelinskaya, the third member of a decisive breakaway, took the bronze.
Defending Olympic champion Nicole Cook of Britain finished in the main bunch, just under 30 seconds behind the trio.
With American Shelley Olds, the medalists took their chance after the second circuit of Box Hill and they quickly opened a good advantage.
South Africa's Cameron Van der Burgh celebrates after breaking the world record in the men's 100-meter breaststroke at the London Olympics on Sunday, July 29. Check out Day 1 of competition from Saturday, July 28. The 2012 Summer Olympics run through August 12. See all the action as it unfolds here.
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Olds dropped away after a puncture and with the peloton failing to eat into the lead of the breakaway, it all boiled down to a sprint finish after 140km racing in mostly wet conditions.
The 25-year-old Vos, runner-up for the past five years in the world road race championships, finally went one better as she had too much strength for Armitstead.
"We gave everything in the breakaway. There were so many people. It was The Mall. It was like a wall of sound. I just sprinted to the line," Vos told gathered reports.
"After Beijing, that was the only thing that was on my mind for four years. Now that it's happened, it's incredible. Now the gold is mine."
Armitstead's performance was a welcome boost for home fans after the bitter disappointment of Mark Cavendish's failure to win the men's road race Saturday.
The 23-year-old from northern England received superb support from teammate Emma Pooley on the testing two laps of Box Hill and took her chance when it emerged.
"I'm a bit shocked. I was so glad I committed to that break, but I should have jumped early, but never mind," she said.
"We discussed before what happened in the men's race that once a group is committed in front, it's hard to be in the back.
"It's the most special thing I've experienced in my life. It's crazy and so inspiring," she added.
The cycling events continue Wednesday with time trial events for men and women.
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Argentina's Ana Gallay, right, and Maria Virginia Zonta go for the ball during the women's beach volleyball preliminary match against April Ross and Jennifer Kessy of the United States.
U.S. swimmer Nick Thoman, front, competes in the men's 100-meter backstroke semifinals.
Britain's Tom Cleverley, center, vies for the ball with United Arab Emirate's Hamdan Al-Kamali, right.
Fans of Great Britain cheer during the men's basketball game against Russia.
Lithuanian forward Linas Kleiza shoots during a preliminary basketball match against Argentina.
A general view of the Aquatics Centre on Sunday evening.
Jerry Bengtson of Honduras celebrates after scoring in the team's first-round soccer match against Spain.
France's Clement Lefert (standing, from left), Amaury Leveaux and Fabien Gilot celebrate after winning the men's 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay final.
David Ferrer of Spain plays a forehand shot during the men's singles tennis match against Vasek Pospisil of Canada.
French swimmer Camille Muffat celebrates after winning the women's 400-meter freestyle final.
Laura Svilpaite of Lithuania competes on the beam during the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification round.
Christos Tsakmakis of Greece competes during the men's canoe single slalom.
Heem Wei Lim of Singapore competes in the floor exercise of the artistic gymnastics women's qualification round.
Football fans wear masks depicting David Beckham while waiting for the match between United Arab Emirates and Great Britain to begin at Wembley Stadium.
British forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu shoots during the men's preliminary basketball match against Russia.
Britain's Sally Watson, left, is congratulated by teammates after scoring against Japan during the women's field hockey preliminary match.
Jingbiao Wu of China takes part in the men's 56-kilogram weightlifting competition.
Italian fencer Diego Occhiuzzi kisses his silver medal after the men's individual saber.
Germany's Robert Stanjek and Frithjof Kleen are in action in the first Star class race in Weymouth, England.
From right, Marianne Vos of the Netherlands, Elizabeth Armitstead of Great Britain, Kristin Armstrong of the United States and Olga Zabelinskaya of Russia cycle in a downpour during the women's road race.
American Kyla Ross competes in the floor exercise in the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification round.
Crista Cullen of Great Britain competes against Masako Sato of Japan during a women's field hockey match.
Senegalese players celebrate at the end of the football match against Uruguay in Wembley Stadium. Senegal defeated Uruguay 2-0.
Greece's Ioannis Mitakis competes in the Finn class race at Weymouth Harbour.
Italy's Diego Occhiuzzi, right, celebrates his victory over Romania's Rares Dumitrescu during the men's saber semifinal fencing bout.
Sweden's Malin Petersen on Sofarsogood acknowledges the crowd after competing in the dressage event.
U.S. swimmer Dana Vollmer, right, prepares for the women's 100-meter butterfly final. Vollmer went on to win a gold medal and set a world record in the event, becoming the first woman to go under 56 seconds.
Becchara Palmer of Australia dives for the ball during a women's beach volleyball preliminary match against Germany.
Neymar, left, of Brazil reacts during the men's football match with Belarus' Igor Kuzmenok in Manchester, England.
Fan shield themselves from the rain during the women's team archery event at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.
Chinese gymnast Yao Jinnan performs on the beam during the women's artistic gymnastics qualification round.
American Alexandra Raisman hugs coach Mihai Brestyan during the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification round.
Teammates congratulate Senegal's Moussa Konate after he scores the opening goal against Uruguay in Wembley Stadium.
Francesca Dallape and Tania Cagnotto of Italy compete in the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard final at the Aquatics Centre.
Spain's Pau Gasol dunks the ball against China at the Basketball Arena in London.
Brazil's Hulk leaps over Aleksandr Gutor of Belarus during a first-round group C football match in Manchester.
Andy Murray of Britain returns the ball against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland during their men's singles tennis match.
Marianne Vos of the Netherlands celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the women's road race.
Argentina's Luciana Aymar, center, rear, and her teammates cheer after she scored the opening goal during a women's field hockey match between Argentina and South Africa
Sharleen Stratton and Anabelle Smith of Australia compete in the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard final at the Aquatics Centre.
Ben Ainslie of Great Britain in action during the first Finn class race in Weymouth, England.
Argentina's Rodrigo Quiroga, left, spikes as Australia's team attempts to block during men's volleyball action between Australia and Argentina.
Great Britain's Jennifer Pinches shows her prowess on the beam in the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification round.
Poland's Pawel Zagrodnik, left, and Masashi Ebinuma of Japan rest on the mat after their men's under 66-kilogram judo match.
Sweden's Andreas Nilsson, No. 35 in yellow, scores past Issam Tej and goalkeeper Marouen Maggaiz of Tunisia during a men's handball preliminary match.
South Korea's Bongil Gu, left, and Max Hartung of Germany face off in the men's saber individual fencing round.
Sweden's Dalibor Doder jumps to shoot during a men's handball preliminary match between Sweden and Tunisia.
Italy's Rosalba Forciniti celebrates after winning against South Korea's Kyung-Ok Kim during the women's under 52-kilogram judo match.
Dark skies loom during the men's beach volleyball preliminary match between Brazil and Austria at the Horse Guards Parade in London.
Australia's Lauren Mitchell competes in the floor exercise in the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification round at North Greenwich Arena.
Masashi Ebinuma of Japan, in white, competes against Sergey Lim of Kazakhstan in a men's under 66-kilogram judo bout.
Italy's Diego Occhiuzzi celebrates his victory over Italian teammate Aldo Montano at the end of the men's saber fencing bout.
The main group of riders passes by the Mall near Buckingham Palace during the women's road race cycling.
Belgium's Gaelle Valcke competes against the Kitty van Male of the Netherlands during a women's field hockey match.
Long Chen of China returns a shot against Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand during the men's singles badminton match at Wembley Arena.
French center Ronny Turiaf challenges U.S. guard Kobe Bryant during the men's preliminary round Group A match.
Germany's Sideris Tasiadis competes during the men's canoe single slalom.
French center Kevin Seraphin, No. 4 in blue, fends off a challenger during the U.S.-France preliminary round match.
Center back Ivano Balic of Croatia jumps to shoot during a men's preliminary handball against South Korea.
A gymnast performs on the floor during the women's qualification of the artistic gymnastics event.
Australian forward Joe Ingles shoots during a men's preliminary round basketball match against Brazil.
China's Biao Chai, right, and Zendong Guo return a shot against South African competitors during a men's doubles badminton match at Wembley Arena.
Brazil's Tiago Splitter, left, and teammate Anderson Varejao react after a foul against Australia during the Brazil-Australia men's basketball game.
Australia's Lauren Mitchell competes on the balance beam in the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification.
American Kimberly Rhode competes in the qualification round for women's skeet shooting. Rhodes went on to win a gold medal.
British fans cheer as Colin Oates of Great Britain defeats Tsagaanbaatar Khashbaatar of Mongolia in the men's under 66-kilogram judo match.
Nick Thoman of the United States competes in the men's 100-meter backstroke heat.
Great Britain's Rebecca Adlington, center, competes in the women's 400-meter freestyle heat at the Aquatics Centre.
China's Man Zhong celebrates after winning the men's saber individual fencing round against South Korea's Junghwan Kim.
Portuguese gymnast Zoi Mafalda Marques de Lima performs on the vault during the women's qualification of the artistic gymnastics event.
France's Camille Lacourt dives in the water before the men's 100-meter backstroke heat.
Brazil's Anderson Varejao, No. 11 in white, gets fouled by Australia's David Andersen, No. 13, as Anderson teammate Matt Nielsen goes for the rebound during the Brazil-Australia men's basketball game.
Cyclists at the start of the women's road race event.
Germany's Marcus Bohme, left, and Marcus Popp attempt to block a shot from Russia during men's volleyball competition.
France's Camille Lacourt competes in the men's 100-meter backstroke heat.
Egypt's Sara Mohamed Baraka, right, and Fatma Rashed compete in the women's lightweight double sculls heats for rowing.
Camille Muffat of France competes in the women's 400-meter freestyle heat.
Dmitry Lapkes, right, of Belarus does battle with Canada's Philippe Beaudry in a fencing bout Sunday at London's ExCeL arena.
Yamilet Pena Abreu of the Dominican Republic competes in the vault competiton in the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification.
France's David Larose, in white, and Lasha Shavdatuashvili of Georgia, in blue, face off during the men's half lightweight judo event.
The festive nail polish of Great Britain's Amy Oliver stands out during the women's team archery elimination match between Britain and Russia.
Nigeria's Quadri Aruna serves in his men's singles second-round table-tennis match against Turkey's Bora Vang.
The Netherlands' women's field hockey team celebrates a third goal against Belgium.
Vietnamese gymnast Thi Ngan Thuong Do performs on the beam during the women's qualification of the artistic gymnastics event.
Fans at Wimbledon's Centre Court take shelter from a downpour under a Union Jack umbrella during a rain delay.
Sri Lanka's Heshan Unamboowe competes in the men's 100-meter backstroke heat.
Australia's Emily Seebohm celebrates after breaking the Olympic record in the women's 100-meter backstroke heat.
Francesco Faraldo of Italy, in blue, reacts after losing against Sugoi Uriarte of Spain, in white, during their men's judo event.
Finland's Lightweight Men's Four take a break from rowing during practice.
Swimmers warm up with laps prior to competition.
An athlete's Olympic rings tattoo is seen during a swimming event.
Musa Mogushkov of Russia, in white, competes with Azerbaijan's Tarlan Karimov, in blue, during their men's 66 kilogram judo event.
Romy Tarangul of Germany, center in blue, celebrates her win against Natalia Kuziutina of Russia in the women's 52 kilogram judo event.
Aron Palmarsson of Iceland jumps to shoot during the men's preliminaries handball match against Argentina.
Anastasia Zueva of Russia competes in the women's 100 meter backstroke.
Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson of Iceland, center in red, prepares to shoot against Argentina during a men's preliminary handball match.
U.S. swimmer Missy Franklin competes in the women's 100 meter backstroke.
Gaelle Mys of Belgium performs on the beam during the women's qualification of the artistic gymnastics event.
Elsa Garcia Rodriguez Blancas of Mexico performs on the balance beam during the women's qualification of the artistic gymnastics event.
Britain's Prince Philip, right, and Princess Anne, Princess Royal, left, attend the Dressage phase of the equestrian competition.
Great Britain's Zara Phillips competes with her horse High Kingdom during the Dressage Equestrian eventon.
Leandro Cunha of Brazil, in white, competes with Pawel Zagrodnik of Poland, in blue, during their men's 66 kilogram judo event.
Nigeria's Ike Diogu, No. 6 in white, collides with Tunisia's Salah Mejri, No. 15 in red, during their men's basketball game.
U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte competes in the men's 200-meter freestyle.
Guatemalan gymnast Ana Sofia Gomez Porras competes on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastics qualification event.
Australia's Jade Close, left, and New Zealand's Emily Naylor, right, compete in field hockey.
Gonzalo Matias Carou, right, of Argentina attempts to shoot past Asgeir Orn Hallgrimsson, left, of Iceland during the men's preliminaries handball match.
Belgian gymnast Gaelle Mys competes on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastics qualification event.
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