Cycling star Lizzie Deignan ends her career unexpectedly
Lizzie Deignan, a British cycling legend, has announced her retirement from the sport, effective immediately. Over an illustrious 19-season career, Deignan has left an indelible mark on women's cycling, earning numerous accolades and breaking new ground.
Deignan's career highlights are a testament to her versatility and prowess. In 2015, she clinched the UCI Road World Championship road race title, a feat that set the stage for her impressive run. That same year, she also triumphed in the Ladies Tour of Qatar, taking both the overall and two stages, and claimed victories in prestigious one-day World Cup classics like the Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio, Philadelphia Cycling Classic, Holland Hills Classic, and GP de Plouay.
Deignan's success continued to soar, with victories in marquee classics such as the Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Strade Bianche, and Paris-Roubaix Femmes in 2021. She also won the British National Road Race Championships three times and the Women's Tour, as well as securing a stage victory at the Vuelta a España Femenina in 2025, just before her retirement.
Deignan's career is not only defined by her wins but also by her pioneering spirit. She was one of the first female professional cyclists to take maternity breaks and return to top-level racing after childbirth, a move that underscores her impact on the sport.
In recent years, Deignan has taken on a domestique role within her team, Lidl-Trek, demonstrating her team spirit and dedication to helping her colleagues. Her leadership and mentorship skills were highly valued by the team, with her being described as a "consummate leader and mentor."
Deignan's career was not without challenges. She took time out of racing in 2018 to give birth to her daughter, Orla, and again in 2020 when she and her husband Philip welcomed their second child, a son named Shea. She is pregnant with her third child and is due in February 2026.
Throughout her career, Deignan has been a vocal advocate for women's cycling, leading the charge for more exposure and better compensation for her colleagues. She has stated that she is happy to end her career as someone who helps other people win bike races again.
Deignan's last victory came at the inaugural Paris-Roubaix Femmes in 2021, where she attacked solo with more than 80km remaining. As she hangs up her cycling shoes, she leaves behind a legacy of achievements that will inspire future generations of female cyclists.
With 43 wins, including the UCI Road World Championships, Paris-Roubaix Femmes, Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Strade Bianche, Deignan is undoubtedly one of British cycling's most successful and versatile riders. She also boasts a Commonwealth Games gold medal, a silver medal in the road race at the 2012 Olympics, and four British national road race titles.
As Deignan steps away from the sport, she does so with her head held high, having made a significant impact on women's cycling and leaving a lasting legacy for future riders to aspire to.
Lizzie Deignan's career, marked by numerous victories and groundbreaking milestones in women's cycling, demonstrates her immense dedication to the sport, making it clear that she has always been a formidable competitor in the world of sports. Her impressive accomplishments, including wins in marquee classics like Paris-Roubaix Femmes and Strade Bianche, have solidified her place as one of British cycling's most successful and versatile riders.
