Deignan claims another title

Women’s British Road Race Championships | June 25 | Douglas, Isle of Man

When you’re the favourite, the star attraction and the rider everyone fears the most, helpers are in short supply.

That was exactly Lizzie Deignan’s predicament last Sunday.

It didn’t help that her only Boelsdolmans team-mate Nikki Brammeier withdrew from the race and that this was her maiden visit to the Isle of Man and she hadn’t recee’d the course.

But, when you’re the former world champion and still one of the best current female riders in the world, preparation is done in the form of experience and tactical knowledge.

When Lizzie wants to make something happen, more times than not, she will.

And so it was, with three laps to go on the finishing 7.2km circuit in Douglas, Deignan decided that it was time to terminate Elinor Barker’s solo lead of around 40 seconds.

The chasing group of nine was too much for Deignan. Most were unwilling to help or to pull for a lengthy period of time.

She pushed on, bringing with her Katie Archibald (Team WNT) and the defending champion Hannah Barnes (Canyon-sram).

But the Yorkshirewoman still wasn’t satisfied. Archibald is in the road form of her life, and Barnes is arguably the only other rider who could match Deignan in a sprint.

The trio closed down a tiring Barker, but on the final lap, the Matrix rider welcomed the bell with a 17-second advantage.

Seven kilometres later, though, thanks to a fierce attack on a small climb, Deignan was crossing the finish line solo, her smile beaming, 10 seconds ahead.

When she needed to make her move, she did, to claim her fourth national title in seven years.