Marianne Vos of The Netherlands claimed gold in the women's elite road race today ©Getty Images

Marianne Vos of The Netherlands claimed gold in the women's elite road race on the penultimate day of the European Cycling Union Road Championships in Danish city Herning.

The London 2012 Olympic road race champion sealed the third European title of her career with victory in a time of 2 hours 51min 13sec.

It follows her previous under-23 continental road race success at Valkenburg in 2006 and Sofia in 2007.

Vos got the better of Giorgia Bronzini in a pulsating sprint finishing, which left the Italian in second place in the same time as her Dutch rival.

Russia's Olga Zabelinskaya completed the podium in 2:51:15.

Denmark's Casper Pedersen, centre, won the men's under-23 gold ©Getty Images
Denmark's Casper Pedersen, centre, won the men's under-23 gold ©Getty Images

Elsewhere today, in the men's under-23 road race, Casper Pedersen of Denmark claimed a narrow victory on home soil.

The Dane crossed the line in a time of 3:31:04, finishing just two seconds in front of his nearest challengers.

France's Benoit Cosnefroy finished in second place in 3:31:06 with Marc Hirschi of Switzerland crossing the line in the same time.

Action is due to conclude tomorrow with the men's elite road race.