We’re looking at motherhood in our February episode of The Cycling Podcast Féminin. With Ellen Van Dijk’s much-anticipated return from maternity leave on the horizon, we explore the growing trend of racers returning to the peloton post-baby.

Rose Manley speaks to Lizzie Deignan, one of the first women to be supported by her team to a return to racing and her agent Emma Wade, as well as new mum and Uno-X rider Joss Lowden, former Trek-Segafredo rider Abi Van Twisk and former British champion Meg Backstedt (née Hughes).

Rose is also joined by Orla Chennaoui and Denny Gray to look at the recent racing, most notably a rare debut win for the GOAT Marianne Vos at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Discussion descends into bickering as the team try to decide how well Lidl-Trek played their tactics at the race after finishing third and fourth. We also ponder Lotte Kopecky’s recent transformation after showing off her climbing legs on the UAE Tour’s Jebel Hafeet and wonder how that might affect a seemingly tense relationship with teammate Demi Vollering.

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The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.