Olympic silver medallist Emma Pooley believes women’s cycling made a big statement in terms of equality with the Tour de Yorkshire on Saturday.

The 136.5km race from Otley to Doncaster was raced over the same roads the men would cover just hours later and last month became the most lucrative women’s race in world cycling.

Dutchwoman Kirsten Wild picked up the €20,000 winner’s prize with Wandsworth’s Pooley trailing in after being dropped from the peloton after 80km, but she was still positive about the event.

She said: “It is fantastic, I am really delighted and I cannot thank race organisers enough and also the crowds in Yorkshire, and Yorkshire itself for hosting a road race that is the same length as the men’s, on the same day when the crowds are out – I think it is brilliant.

“I think people like watching it so it is great for everyone.

“It is a great example of the principle of equality, I don’t think I won any prize money today but I think it is an important statement to make.

“Especially for people watching, it shows that women’s racing matters and it is important for little girls watching that they can ride bikes too.”

Leicester’s Lucy Garner finished second in the bunch sprint for her Wiggle High5 team as world champion Lizzie Armitstead failed with a breakaway attempt and was reeled in with around five kilometres to go.

Pooley, who won silver in the time trial at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, has taken her focus off road racing to compete in triathlon’s recently, but still has her eyes on the Rio Olympic Games this summer.

“It was a bit tough for me but the support was amazing, seeing so many people out there and hopefully it was good entertainment,” she added.

“Next weekend I’ve got a half-ironman in Fuerta Ventura, in Majorca, and I had a half-ironman last weekend as well – which is not a great preparation for a road race

“Then at the start of June I’ve got another half-ironman and then I’ll know about selection, so if I’m selected for Rio then I’ll concentrate more on just road cycling.”

Yorkshire Bank is an Official Partner of the Tour de Yorkshire and the ground-breaking Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries initiative. Visit www.ybonline.co.uk/tdy