Olympic medalist Lizzie Deignan announces retirement from cycling after surprise pregnancy reveal
British cyclist Lizzie Deignan has surprised fans with an early retirement from professional cycling. The 36-year-old star, who planned to stop at the end of the 2025 season, shared on Tuesday, July 23, 2025, that she is expecting her third child and will now retire right away.
Deignan, one of Great Britain's most successful cyclists, shared the news on Instagram with a baby announcement and the caption: 'A new chapter in the Deignan story.' Her team, Lidl-Trek, also confirmed her retirement on the same day.
Lizzie Deignan retires from cycling career after pregnancy news
Originally from Otley, West Yorkshire, Lizzie Deignan is a former world champion with 43 pro victories and an Olympic silver medal from London 2012. She was scheduled to retire later this year but moved the date ahead after learning she was pregnant.
Her third offspring will be this one.
In June 2025, in Copenhagen, Denmark, where she rode in the Copenhagen Sprint, her final race was held. Before that, she raced in the Tour of Britain Women. Speaking to BBC Sport, Deignan said, 'I have this life outside of cycling that gives me so much fulfilment and so much love.'
She added,
'I don't need to retire at the top. I'm really happy to go full circle and help others win again before I finish.'
Deignan had taken breaks before — once in 2018 when her daughter Orla was born, and again in 2022 for the birth of her son, Shea. Even though she thought about retiring in 2022, she chose to continue racing in a support role, helping younger riders grow.
Lizzie Deignan's final win came in Barcelona with
Lidl-Trek team
Lizzie Deignan won the first women's team time trial stage in Barcelona for her Lidl-Trek team and went on to more recently win a pro race at the Vuelta Espana Femenina in May 2025.
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To the many classics she won in her career, one should fully voice the 2021 Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Strade Bianche, the Women's Tour, and the Tour of Flanders. In 2015, she was ranked first worldwide in Richmond, Virginia, too.
While Deignan's choice to leave right now is loaded with emotion, fans and colleagues support her. Online Lidl-Trek wrote, "Thanks Lizzie for your leadership, kindness, and fantastic accomplishments. "
FAQs
1. Who is Lizzie Deignan?
Lizzie Deignan is a British cyclist with 43 pro wins and an Olympic silver medal.
2. When did Lizzie Deignan retire?
She retired in July 2025 after announcing her third pregnancy.
3. What was her last race?
Her final race was the Copenhagen Sprint in June 2025.
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