The esteemed British cyclist, Lizzie Deignan MBE, has announced her decision to retire from professional racing at the close of the 2025 season. The primary reason for this choice stems from her desire to dedicate more time to her children, as she states she “doesn`t want to say goodbye to them anymore.”
Throughout her illustrious career, Deignan has accumulated a remarkable list of achievements. Notably, she secured the road race gold medal at the 2015 World Championships held in the USA and earned a silver medal in the same event at the London 2012 Olympics. Her success continued as she clinched gold in the road race at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The 35-year-old mother of two, who recently extended her contract with team Lidl-Trek for another year, shared her heartfelt feelings in a video posted on social media. “I`m going to retire at the end of 2025,” she confirmed. “My kids… I just don`t want to say goodbye to them anymore. I have no ego or necessity to retire at the top.” Deignan also expressed her eagerness to “go full circle” and contribute to the sport by helping others succeed, stating she would be “delighted to be a part of that” if she can assist “the next champions of the sport.”
Deignan, who raced as Armitstead before her marriage to fellow professional cyclist Gary Deignan in 2016, holds the unique distinction of being the first woman to win all three of cycling`s major one-day Monuments: Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix. Her commanding victory in the inaugural Paris-Roubaix Femmes in 2021, where she broke away with over 80 kilometers remaining, cemented her status among the sport`s all-time greats. Her impressive list of victories also includes two triumphs in the Women`s Tour of Britain and Trofeo Alfredo Binda, alongside three wins at the Grand-Prix de Plouay.
Stephen Park, Great Britain`s performance director, lauded Deignan`s profound impact on the sport. He described her as “one of Britain`s most decorated and influential cyclists,” whose career will be remembered for “boundary-pushing iconic cycling moments.” Park highlighted her consistent excellence, whether competing for her country at the highest level or performing at the forefront of the women`s professional peloton.
“What stands out most in Lizzie is her impact across the entire women`s peloton, and the work she`s done to pave the way for many young riders,” Park stated. He concluded that her “iconic performances on the bike and advocacy for women`s sport off the bike have inspired many,” directly influencing numerous young talents within the GB Cycling Team pathway.
