Trek launches women's road team led by Lizzie Deignan

Deignan will next year head a new women’s road team launched by Trek Factory Racing today.

It is planned that the team will compete at UCI Women’s WorldTour level, beginning next year.

The 2019 season will see Deignan return to racing after sitting out this year as she expects her first child.

The 29-year-old, who joins Trek after six years with the Dutch outfit Boels-Dolmans, said: "I'm thrilled to partner with Trek and to support the company's mission to affect major progress in the sport.”

Next year, one of her major targets is to regain the UCI Road World Championship, with the 2019 edition taking place on her home roads in Yorkshire.

Deignan added: “The goals of the team perfectly align with my personal and professional goals, and I'm excited to be part of it."

The new team will be have its own support staff, as well as sharing some resources with the Trek-Segafredo UCI WorldTour team.

Trek president John Burke said: “Trek is committed to changing the world by inspiring more people to ride, and our world-class women's road team will be filled with passionate racers who are out to inspire.

“We're putting full support behind our athletes so they can focus on their profession and be the best they can be,” he added.

"We've learned from owning other Trek Factory Racing programs that direct support and involvement from Trek is good for athletes, partners, and staff. It creates an environment where everyone thrives," commented Trek's Sports Marketing Director, Tim Vanderjeugd.

"Trek Factory Racing has strong female athletes in enduro, downhill, cross country, and cyclocross. This new model is a first for women's road cycling."