Deignan announces pregnancy and plans to compete until 2020 14 March 2018

Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team was happily surprised to learn the news that Lizzie Deignan and husband Philip Deignan are expecting their first child later this year. The former world champion, current British champion and double overall World Cup winner publicly announced her pregnancy on Instagram on Wednesday.

“Philip and I are delighted to announce that we are expecting our first child in September. We both feel incredibly lucky and grateful that we are going to become parents. We are excited and full of anticipation for how our lives are going to change.”

The reigning Commonwealth Games champion already announced she won’t be defending her title next month and is now able to reveal the main reason behind this decision. Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team would like to congratulate Lizzie and Phil on the happy news.

Deignan looks back on a successful 2017 season, in which she was a powerful asset to the team, supporting team mate Anna van der Breggen in her triple win in the Ardennes, while earning second place in all three races herself. She finished on the podium of the new-style La Course, took back the British title on the road and won her home race Tour de Yorkshire. Plus, she won the GP Plouay for the second time, a race very dear to her heart.

After a ten-year career that started at Team Halfords Bikehut in 2008 and has been continued in the Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team outfit since 2013, Deignan is now about to start a whole new adventure. But Deignan has already set her sights on a continuation of her professional cycling career and will aim to return to the peloton, with the 2019 World Road Championships in Yorkshire and the 2020 Olympic Games as her main goals. Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team will support Deignan in every respect to be able to get back to top level.

“I am also proud to announce that I am aiming to return to professional cycling in 2019 and 2020. I have been inspired by countless women who have showed how successful and feasible this challenge could be. My dream of becoming World Champion at home in Yorkshire is still my dream, I will just have more people to share the journey with.”

“Thank you to those who have believed in me, my husband, family and friends who all support me. I will continue to ride for Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team, who have been the catalyst to success in my career. I hope to finish my career in 2020 at the pinnacle of my sport, the Tokyo Olympic Games. Bring it on!”

It goes without saying that Deignan’s temporary absence will be a big loss for the team, but Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team completely understands and supports Deignan’s choice. The team will compensate for Deignan's loss in 2018 as best as it can, having already taken two Women’s WorldTour wins this year, and is already looking forward to her return in 2019 and 2020.

The riders, staff and sponsors of Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team would like to take this opportunity to wish Lizzie and Phil Deignan all the luck in this new chapter in their lives.