‘I’m not on the prime of my sport but’ – Lizzie Deignan’s return to racing at RideLondon
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Lizzie Deignan (Trek Segafredo) returned to racing on British roads on the RideLondon Classique with a 3rd place end within the common classification, regardless of being unable to contest the dash on stage 3.
The previous World Champion, alongside her Trek Segafredo teammates, tried to assault GC chief Charlotte Kool in an try and take again the 5-second lead Kool held over Deignan going into the ultimate stage in central London.
They had been unable to interrupt away from the peloton nevertheless, and Deignan, a a lot lighter rider not recognized for bunch sprinting regardless of having an unimaginable flip of velocity, was bumped from each side within the last few kilometres and was pleased to simply end the stage.
“The tactic was to try to do one thing after the second [intermediate] dash, however the course was not fairly dynamic sufficient,” mentioned Deignan. “It was tough to distance folks. We tried and gave it a go, nevertheless it didn’t work then it was about making an attempt to set me up as greatest we might for the dash.
“If you happen to noticed what occurred to me there, I used to be bumped round fairly a bit and I used to be simply, ultimately, pleased to remain upright, to be trustworthy. It was actually hectic and for me to try to pull a win off in a bunch dash is difficult at the most effective of occasions.”
She was, nevertheless, fast to snort about how a ‘lack of energy’ was the important thing think about her not contesting the dash in opposition to Kool and Chloé Dygert (Canyon-SRAM), who leapfrogged Deignan on GC because of her bonus seconds gained on the stage.
Deignan had been making an attempt to maneuver up earlier than the peloton turned again onto the Mall for the ultimate time, however virtually crashed resulting from contact on each side, forcing her to retreat from any try at sprinting for the win.
It was the primary time the pioneering Brit had raced on the Mall since her silver medal success on the London 2012 Olympics video games the place Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) took the win.
Trek-Segafredo labored onerous for Deignan after Elisa Balsamo (Trek Segafredo) was compelled to abandon after a crash on stage 1 and the British rider carried out nicely, ending third on stage 1 and second on stage 2.
It’s one other step ahead within the health of Deignan since getting back from her second maternity go away on the Ardennes Classics in April.
“I’m actually pleased with my progress. On paper, this race doesn’t swimsuit me, however I used to be in a position to have an effect and we made the most effective of a nasty scenario after dropping our sprinter,” mentioned Deignan.
“I believe the crew actually deserves the credit score for that as a result of it was a crew effort.
“I’m not on the prime of my sport but and I’m not precisely the place I have to be but, so I’m simply pleased with the progress.”
Deignan’s upcoming calendar is filled with additional alternatives to construct that type on the run into the Tour de France Femmes in July, with the rider set to line up at each the Tour de Suisse in June and the Giro d’Italia Donne from June 30 to July 9.
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