Deignan Still GB's Best Hope

Former champion team leader for Worlds despite recent surgery

- Vern Pitt

The bosses of British Cycling are confident Lizzie Deignan still represents one of Team GB’s best chances of taking home a rainbow jersey at this week’s World Championships despite having surgery to remove her appendix at the end of August.

Deignan, who won the GP de Plouay just four days before having her operation, will still likely enter the women’s World Championship road race as team leader, according to BC performance director Stephen Park.

Speaking to Cycling Weekly, Park said: “That appendicitis has clearly brought some apprehension about how she will be able to deliver but ultimately we believe she is in good enough form and, more importantly, she believes she is in good enough form. With the tenacious attitude she has you wouldn’t bet against her.”

Park added that Deignan had been continuing to build up her training over the last week as she recovered from surgery.