Lizzie Deignan: Cycling is only part of who I am

Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) wins OVO Energy Women's Tour in 2019
Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) wins OVO Energy Women's Tour in 2019 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Lizzie Deignan will embark on an important year ahead where she will devote her training, race schedule and focus toward a singular goal of winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. In an interview with Cyclingnews from the Trek-Segafredo training camp in Italy, the decorated British cyclist reflected on her first year of motherhood, breaking down barriers for other athlete-mothers, and the Olympics.

"It's been life changing," Deignan told Cyclingnews about what it's been like as an athlete after giving birth to her daughter Orla just over a year ago. "It teaches you to … well, I'm not the priority anymore. As an athlete, previously, I was the priority but I prefer not to be. It's taken the pressure off me. I prefer it that way. It's not the be-all and end-all whether I win a bike race or not. 

Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.