‘It’s too soon to announce a retirement’: Lizzie Deignan remains focused on Yorkshire 2019 World Championships and Olympic Games
The British favourite hopes to take a second rainbow jersey in her home county
Lizzie Deignan remains focused on her ambition to win a second rainbow jersey at the Yorkshire 2019 World Championships, saying “it’s too early to announce a retirement.”
The 30-year-old will lead the British squad in the elite women’s road race on Saturday (September 27), which will be a memorable moment for Deignan as the race passes through her home town of Otley.
Amid reports that Deignan was planning to retire next year, she has now said its too soon to announce the end of her career as she targets the World Championships and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic road race.
>>> Weather conditions will be decisive in Worlds road race, say Belgian team
“My plan is to do the World Championships and then to re-focus on the Olympic Games,” she said.
"Post that, that’s where the plan stops honestly.
“But at this moment in time it’s too soon to announce a retirement because anything can happen between now and then.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“One World Championships and Olympics at a time.”
The Yorkshire 2019 World Championships will be a special occasion for Deignan, as the race passes her parents' house and she’ll face walls of home crowds cheering her on.
“It’ll just be surreal,”she said.
“It will be a ‘pinch me’ moment.
“I'm just trying to embrace the World Championships. Like normally I wouldn't watch races, I'd stay in my room and not do too much, but I've kind of taken a different approach this time, soaking it up and enjoying the atmosphere, just enjoying it.
“It's part of the people in my life's everyday consciousness as well. Normally for them the Worlds build-up is maybe the night before, they'll give me a ring and say 'good luck tomorrow', whereas I think for my friends and family and the local community it's been a bit of a build-up, so there's more pressure than normal, just more excitement around.”
Deignan already knows the feeling of pulling on the rainbow jersey, one of the most coveted titles in cycling, after she won the World Championships in Richmond back in 2015, beating the likes of Anna van der Breggen (Ned) in a sprint.
But Deignan faces a changed peloton in 2019, after she returned from racing after a year absence, having given birth to her daughter Orla.
“I'm as good as I've ever been physically and I'm really proud of that, that's taken a lot of hard work and determination to get back to that point, but that doesn't mean I'm in the same position that I was in 2015 where I had the same power.
“The women's peloton has moved on so although I'm back to my best, or the best I've ever been, it's a completely different peloton now so I'm going to have to be better than I've been before on Saturday to win that title.
“I only took a year off and I would say there has been a huge jump in the amount of women at the top tier of the sport. It's welcome, I think it's great that there's so many different winners now and more women able to be professional in every sense of the word. It did surprise me in such a short space of time.
“It's about having finances and support to do training camps, to have physio, to have osteos [osteopaths], nutritionists, all those elements that make up a professional athlete are accessible to so many more women now which is obviously great."
Deignan has still proven herself as a favourite for the Worlds, winning stage five of the Women's Tour and taking the general classification in the process back in June.
>>> Boels and Dolmans withdraw backing to leave leading women’s squad searching for new sponsors
But what is the biggest hurdle between Deignan and a second world title?
“Team dynamics in the race,” she said.
“Tactically it’s going to be a tough race. The Dutch are just a powerhouse because they have so many women who can win the world title and I don’t think we match them in terms of our team strength.
“I think they are our big challenge.”
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
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
Among market turmoil, Colnago boasts €55 million in sales: CEO shares the brand’s secret
Colnago’s growth has tripled since the brand’s acquisition by new majority stakeholders in 2020 and seems impervious to the downturn. Here's why.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Why e-bike torque numbers matter more than you think
You should choose an e-bike based on torque, not just power
By Paul Norman Published
-
'I've missed races I was peaking for, but there's plenty of time to be ready': Lizzie Deignan says broken arm won't derail Olympic goals
Deignan set to lead GB team at Tour of Britain Women and target the overall win as she builds for Paris games
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I'll take time to recover then change direction': Lizzie Deignan looks to bounce back after suffering first fracture at Tour of Flanders
Deignan broke her arm during early crash in Sunday's race
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘I remember eating two pizzas and still being hungry’ - Elisa Longo Borghini on the ride that changed her
2022 Paris-Roubaix Femmes winner reflects back on her victory in the 2013 Trofeo Alfreda Binda
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Lizzie Deignan says uncertainty around Women's Tour future is 'frustrating' after promoter enters liquidation
Collapse of SweetSpot leaves race at risk of permanently vanishing
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Loss of Women's Tour would be hammer blow for peloton, Elisa Longo Borghini says
British Cycling says 'every possible effort' will be made to ensure a women's event takes place in calendar slot occupied by the Women's Tour
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Can Lizzie Deignan bag another Monument? Cycling Weekly’s big predictions for the 2024 season
It is time for our writers to look into their crystal balls and give their predictions for the season ahead
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘I no longer had that imposter syndrome’ - Lizzie Deignan on the ride that changed her
Lidl-Trek star looks back on a special moment at the London 2012 Olympic Games
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Lizzie Deignan ‘optimistic’ after impressive World Championships performance
Brit says she felt the efforts of early breakaway in closing stages of ‘relentless’ race
By Tom Thewlis Published