The 27-year-old, a rider for the Boels-Dolmans team, escaped from the peloton alongside Johansson with just over 16 kilometres remaining and defeated her rival by half the width of a wheel in an event that is part of the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour. 

A time of 3 hours 53min 38sec earned reigning world champion Armitstead her fourth win of the season from six races following triumphs at Omloop het Nieuwsblad in Belgium and the Italian events of Strade Bianche and Trofeo Binda.

It also sees her return to the summit of the UCI Women’s WorldTour rankings.

Wiggle-High5 rider Johansson initiated the decisive breakaway in the 145km race just before the final climb and, with Armitstead the only rider to follow, they went on to open up a lead of more than 20 seconds.

The pair had a long sprint to the line as the gap closed in the final kilometre and it was Armitstead who ultimately prevailed, bettering her previous best result of second in the 2014 edition of one of the most prestigious races in women's cycling. 

The chasers finished four seconds later, with Armitstead’s fellow Boels-Dolmans rider, Chantal Blaak of The Netherlands, winning the sprint for third place.

In the men's race, another world champion Peter Sagan of Slovakia finished 25 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger to take top honours.

Tinkoff rider Sagan clocked a time of 6:10:42 and was followed across the line by three-time winner Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, competing in his last Tour of Flanders before retirement.

Belgium's Sep Vanmarcke was third, 27 seconds back, after falling away on the final climb - the Paterberg. 

Having dropped Vanmarcke, Sagan then held off Cancellara and stretched his lead in the last 5km of the 255.9km race. 

Armitstead and Sagan's victories come after Irish club cyclist Pat Coyle died having suffered a suspected heart attack during yesterday's Tour of Flanders sportive.

The 56-year-old was ascending Oude Kwaremont, 25 kilometres from the sportive’s finish in Oudenaarde, when he fell ill and collapsed.

Despite providing immediate aid, medics were unable to save the Irishman, who is thought to have been riding with his son.

His death comes after the recent passing of two Belgian cyclists, Antoine Demoitié and Daan Myngheer.

Demoitié died following a crash involving a motorbike during the Gent-Wevelgem one-day classic, while Myngheer’s life was cut short after suffering a heart attack during the Criterium International in Corsica.

Sagan dedicated his success today to Demoitié and Myngheer. 

"Thank you to all the team; they did a really great," he said. 

"We also have to think about the two guys who died last week.

"It's very sad, but I want to dedicate this to them."