Lizzie Deignan: Motherhood - Women's Edition Podcast

Trek-Segafredo rider discusses parenting, pro cycling and dreams of winning a second world title in Yorkshire

Welcome to the Cyclingnews Podcast Women's Edition, brought to you by Sportful, Pinarello and Floyds of Leadville.

In this episode Cyclingnews' women’s editor Kirsten Frattini sits down with former world champion and new mom Lizzie Deignan to discuss motherhood, her postpartum return to pro cycling, dreams of winning a second world title at Yorkshire World Championships, and her biggest hopes for the future of women's cycling.

Deignan took time away from the sport to give birth to her first child and only recently returned to the peloton with her new team Trek-Segafredo at the Ardennes Classics, Tour de Yorkshire, Tour of California and the OVO Energy Women's Tour, where she won the overall title.

At a time when major sport sponsors are pushing promotional content geared toward equality, female athletes such as American Olympians Kara Goucher, Allyson Felix and Alysia Montaño, have exposed American company Nike for its performance-based reductions clause in athlete contracts, and how that affects athletes who want to have a baby.

Montaño wrote a detailed opinion piece in The New York Times titled "Nike told me to dream crazy, until I wanted a baby", where she described the company's policy of reducing and cutting salaries after some of its female athletes decided to become pregnant.

Female cyclists can relate to this policy as contracts have been cancelled or considered nullified if an athlete becomes pregnant.

Hear from Deignan on her decision to start a family while at the peak of her cycling career and why she left long-time team Boels Dolmans. She also speaks about the importance of competing for a team and sponsors that support her cycling career while also being a mother.

Deignan also spoke about the UCI's decision to include a maternity clause and other insurances into its standard athlete-team contracts beginning in 2020. But she noted that a similar amendment, in the form of a paternity clause, would be welcomed among the men’s peloton as well.

We hope you enjoy our discussion with Lizzie Deignan.

If this is your first time listening to the Women’s edition podcast, make sure you go back and listen to our previous three episodes; The edge of popularity, Behind the scenes at Trek-Segafredo and What makes a woman?

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