Cyclist Lizzie Deignan announces return to racing

Lizzie Deignan has announced she will return to bike racing at the Amstel Gold Race following the birth of her daughter.

The former world champion gave birth to her daughter Orla last September, and has been open about her aim to challenge for medals at for the Road World Championships which will be held in Yorkshire this September.

Deignan admitted that returning for the Dutch race on April 21 would see her back earlier than planned, the last time she raced was in the 2017 World Championships.

“So far my training has gone better than expected,” she told Yahoo Sport. “I was initially expecting to return to racing in June but I’ve decided to push that forward and I’m going to return at the Amstel Gold Race in a couple of weeks.

“Whether I’m able to win there or not, I really just don’t know. I don’t know where the women’s peloton is at, I’ve been out for over a year now so to predict that would be difficult.

“But I know from my own training perspective that there’s still a couple of steps to go before I’m at peak fitness. But in time for the World Championships, I’m confident of that.”

It will be the first time the British cyclist lines up with her new team Trek-Segafredo, who she joined before going on maternity leave.

“The only thing that would have stopped me from racing now would have been fear,” she added.

“It would be silly to not start because of the fear of not being good enough because I think being on the start line seven months after giving birth is a victory in itself.

“I’m just really excited to do that race, it’s a race that I’ve always loved, and I’m usually successful in, so it’s a good place to start.”

Deignan, who has been one of the leading lights in British cycling, has been competing since the age of 15 and admitted it had been nice to step away from the rigours of the women’s world tour for a period of extended leave.

“To be able to be in a privileged position, where I know I was coming back to it, but to have that 12 months off from racing has made me really appreciate what I’m doing a lot more, and I’m a lot more motivated to step back in to it.”

The Yorkshire cyclist also admitted she was “incredibly grateful” to the women who had shown her it was possible to return to the highest levels of sport after they became mothers.

“Sarah Storey, Laura Kenny, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Serena Williams. There’s so many high profile women now who’ve returned to sport successfully after becoming a mum,” she said.

“It was never something I imagined when I first started cycling that I would step away and be able to come back as a mum.

“The fact that they’ve done it, and they’ve done it successfully means that in those hard moments where I’m doubting myself, doubting whether it’s possible to combine them, they’ve shown that it is, and I’d like to become one of them.”

Deignan credited her husband, former Team Sky professional Philip Deignan, as a key part of balancing her cycling career and family commitments.

They were married in 2016 and, after he called time on his cycling career, he has taken on a significant role when it comes to childcare.

“He’s just brilliant, he’s a brilliant dad, he’s a brilliant husband. But [he was] a professional cyclist himself so he works alongside me a little bit with coaching as well, I’d just be lost without him really.”

After the Amstel Gold Race, the 30-year-old will ride the Tour de Yorkshire at the start of May, which will also form a key part of her preparation for the World Championships.

The opening stage on May 3 features the same Harrogate circuit that will be used during the Championships as well as intermediate sprint that mirrors Championships finish line.

“I think doing the Tour de Yorkshire is a really important step because part of the course there is part of the World Championships, it’s almost a dress rehearsal,” she said.

“The crowds as well will push me on to a better result than I could probably hope for.”

With organisers expecting fans to line the roads in Yorkshire, Deignan was pleased to have played a part in the popularity of the sport both locally and across the UK.

She made the announcement about her decision to return during a visit to a Yorkshire Bank bike library in South Leeds where local children can borrow bikes free of charge.

“In my position I have to talk about legacy a lot particularly after London 2012.

“This showcases the fact there is a real legacy of that, and kids who are inspired by their role models from things like the Olympics are having a chance to ride a bike.”

As she posed for photos and greeted young cyclists at the bike library, it’s clear that Deignan can count on home support as she plots her path to the start line at the World Championships come September.