It’s a surreal feeling to be back – Lizzie Deignan prepares for Belgium return

Lizzie Deignan admitted it felt “surreal” to be getting ready to race again as she prepares for an earlier-than-expected return to action at La Fleche Wallonne on Wednesday. The 34-year-old is back in the peloton two weeks earlier than her planned return at La Vuelta Femenina in early May, seven months after giving birth for the second time with the arrival of son Shea in late September. Deignan has been pressed into action by injury and illness within her Trek-Segafredo squad but hopes to get the same returns from racing the Ardennes Classics – she will also ride Sunday’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege – as she would from training.