Lizzie Deignan: Young, dynamic British team have a lot of cards to play in women's road race

Lizzie Deignan: Young, dynamic British team have a lot of cards to play in women's road race

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Reigning world champion Lizzie Deignan believes Saturday’s UCI Road World Championships women’s event is “anybody’s race” in Qatar.

The British rider has already tasted success in Doha, after winning the team time trial with her domestic racing team Boels-Dolmans.

Boels-Dolmans win world title

Deignan, nee Armitstead, is well aware of the tests world championship courses can throw up after winning the 2015 edition in a dramatic final sprint, after 129km of Richmond's climbs and cobbles.

“It’s an interesting world championships course, that’s for sure,” she said.

“I’d probably almost describe it as more of a criterium than a road race but I think we have a young dynamic team with lots of talent so we have a lot of cards to play which is quite exciting at a world championships for us.

“We’ll have eight women in the race, which we’ve not really had before and this course offers us opportunities so it’s exciting.”

In an Olympic year, Deignan has not focussed her training programme around the 134.5km race.

Briton wins the world road race title

“I think if I went home with a world title from here I would be, first of all, surprised but obviously delighted,” she said.

“It’s not a world championships that I’ve prepared specifically for but I think it’s anybody’s race here and I have good form from the TT world championships so I’m excited to have a go at it.”

The seasoned championship rider is also relishing her role as mentor in the Great Britain Cycling Team.

“I would hope that the young riders in the team feel that they can ask me anything that they want to; I definitely feel capable of fulfilling that role now.

Team mentor role

“I’m 27, world champion and got quite a few victories under my belt as well as defeats so I hope that I can offer them something.”

The news of Yorkshire’s successful bid for the 2019 UCI Road World Championships was music to the ears of the Otley-born rider.

“Obviously as a Yorkshire girl, I’m very excited by the 2019 Yorkshire world championships,” she said.

“It reflects all the hard work, right through from the grassroots levels to the Olympic champions that we have. The team has really turned Great Britain into a cycling nation and Yorkshire is a great reflection of that.

“Racing in the Tour de Yorkshire this year was one of the best races that I’ve ever done.

“Obviously the Olympic Games in London was massive and I think the appetite for those races has only improved since then so I just can’t imagine what it will be like in 2019.”

“I think that it’s really important that events such as world championships do provide a legacy and it’s not just one event and disappears and the £15 million that’s been made available to fund new things is really important."

Follow the women’s road race live on BBC Red Button and BBC One from 10.45am Saturday 15 October.