HAVING seen the work Lizzie Armitstead put in behind the scenes in order to become world champion last week, close friend and teammate Dani King has no doubt she can repeat the trick in Rio next year.

The 26-year-old joined an elite group of British female riders, after Beryl Burton, Mandy Jones and Nicole Cooke, in getting her hands on the rainbow jersey following her win in the Road World Championships in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday.

The victory went some way to making up for the heartbreak of 12 months previous when Armitstead, one of the pre-race favourites – finished outside of the medals after a tactical oversight.

The Otley-born rider now has impressive array of medal collections, including Commonwealth Games gold, and Olympic silver from 2012 – although she has already set her sights up upgrading that in Rio next year.

And Olympic team pursuit champion King, who is now turning her own attentions solely towards the road in the aim of making the team for next year’s Games, believes that is well within Armitstead’s capability.

“Lizzie’s performance in Richmond was absolutely inspirational. She has put such a great deal of work in to her preparations and to see her do so fantastically well was well deserved,” she said.

“She knew what happened last year but she was determined not to let it happen again.

“I read somewhere that she said she was not going to listen to what other people were doing and she just got on with the job in hand, it was a fantastic performance.

“Obviously I have my own personal ambitions for trying to make the road team for Rio but I’ll be 100 per cent working for Lizzie. I believe she has a great chance to win gold.

“She has proven that whatever she puts her mind to, she can achieve and I’d love to help her try and get gold.”

While King’s long term target will be to team up with Armitstead in Rio, she will however return briefly to the boards next month for Six Day London.

Featuring the world’s best riders, it promise to be a packed programme of events at Lee Valley VeloPark from October 18-23 and King admits she can’t wait to return to the scene of her London 2012 triumph.

“I am really looking forward to Six Day London, I think it will be a really exciting few days, especially with having women’s racing throughout the event too,” she added,

“With being a track cyclist I had heard about six day racing but I had never heard of the UK having a Six Day competition.

“I thought it would be a nice event to go and watch. And then when I heard it was going to be held in London and that there was women’s racing too I got in touch to see if I could ride.

“Every time I go to the Olympic velodrome it gives me Goosebumps. It’s a big factor in why I wanted to compete in Six Day London, as it’s just such a special place.”

Six Day London is at Lee Valley VeloPark between 18-23 Oct - tickets now on sale at www.sixday.com. Come and see the world's best track cyclists in action and be part of an electric party atmosphere at London's Olympic Velodrome.