Lizzie Deignan to make Tour de France Femmes debut this July
'It's the biggest stage in the world,' says Brit
![Lizzie Deignan at RideLondon Classique 2023](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2D6ZkVrBXveXTGaUDh9JyH-415-80.jpg)
Former road world champion Lizzie Deignan has revealed that she plans to make her debut at this summer's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
The Brit, who recently finished third at the three-day Ford RideLondon Classique, returned to racing last month, following the birth of her second child in September 2022.
Speaking to Cycling Weekly and other outlets at the race in London, Deignan detailed her current schedule, which includes the Tour de Suisse in mid-June, before a duo of Grand Tours in July's Giro d'Italia Donne and Tour de France Femmes.
"I'm really happy with my progress," she said. “I’ve done more races than I expected to, with those Ardennes at the beginning, but [I’m] still open-minded. I’m not at the top of my game yet. I’m not exactly where I need to be yet, so I’m just happy with the progress.”
After a year and a half away from the peloton, Deignan returned in a support role at La Flèche Wallone and Liège-Bastogne-Liège in April, before taking on the seven-day La Vuelta Femenina.
Asked about her upcoming race calendar, the 34-year-old said: “Now I’ll take a little bit of a break, just a couple of days to kind of back off a bit, and then I do the Tour de Suisse, the Giro and then the Tour de France.”
Deignan’s pregnancy meant she missed last year’s inaugural edition of the Tour de France Femmes, won resoundingly by Movistar’s Annemiek van Vleuten.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
This year's event will feature the race’s first-ever haute catégorie climb in the Col du Tourmalet, as well as a final day individual time trial.
“The fact that we now have a Tour de France shows the state of women’s cycling, the appetite for women’s cycling, the opportunities that are there,” Deignan said in a recent interview with the race organisers, ASO.
“It’s the biggest stage in the world for us as female athletes. If I retired and somebody asked me, ‘Have you ridden the Tour de France?’ and I had to say no, then that would be a disappointment because it’s a global event.
“You know, everybody has heard of the Tour de France, and to be able to say that I’ve had a part of it is something that I obviously want.”
Though the Brit is yet to make her Tour debut, she has previously ridden La Course - a now defunct one-day race organised by ASO - and won the 2020 edition.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is the host of The TT Podcast, which covers both the men's and women's pelotons and has featured a number of prominent British riders.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides.
He's also fluent in French and Spanish and holds a master's degree in International Journalism.
-
Unbound Gravel lottery opens two months early, ensuring riders are 'more prepared than ever'
Registration for the 2025 Unbound Gravel will open on Friday, November 1, 2024, and close two weeks later, on November 15. Lottery winners will be announced on November 21, 2024.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Star triathlete Taylor Knibb to take on world's fastest cyclists in the Olympic time trial
Colorado-based 26-year-old Taylor Knibb will be representing Team USA in both the individual time trial and triathlon at the Paris Olympics.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Lizzie Deignan
The trailblazing British cyclist has been at the top of the sport for over a decade
By Adam Becket Published
-
‘I’m in serious danger’ - Alpe d’Huez QOM holder reacts to climb’s Tour de France Femmes inclusion
Illi Gardner has the best time on over 8,000 Strava climb segments
By Tom Davidson Published
-
New British women's team is aiming for the Tour de France Femmes - with a budget to match its ambitions
Hess Cycling will have a "core focus" on developing British riders, and has already signed 17-year-old Holly Ramsey
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tour de France Femmes 2024 route: Alpe d'Huez finale confirmed
Race to take place 12-18 August, with eight stages over seven days
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Demi Vollering and Jonas Vingegaard both finished in yellow - but the Tour de France Femmes winner took home less than a tenth of the prize money
To put it in Euro per Kilometer, the 2023 men's Tour paid €146.8 per km while the women earned €52.3 per km.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
There’s a secret hypnosis chamber at the Tour de France Femmes for one team’s marginal gains
FDJ-Suez have a high-tech recovery protocol which they hope will deliver results on the road
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Riders union calls for stricter motorbike safety after rider clipped at Tour de France Femmes
'It shouldn't happen,' said Kathrin Hammes, who came close to crashing on stage four
By Tom Davidson Published
-
The best bike tech of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2023
From special edition wheels to raised stems, here's what's being used at the race
By Tom Davidson Published