Returning to elite competition this spring, Lizzie Deignan (opens in new tab) is happy with the level she showed in 2019, but in what is expected to be her last season of racing with the Tokyo Olympic (opens in new tab) road race as her goal, she has once again She has vowed not to stand still at her previous level in order to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Dignan gave birth to her first child in 2018 and returned to competition this spring. In her first season in Trek Segafredo (open with new tab) colors, she raced a reduced schedule to keep her feet on the ground, but still managed some impressive results, including a seventh place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and a win at the OVO Energy Women's Tour and a win in the OVO Energy Women's Tour.

She ended the season with a brave run at the World Championships, but ultimately fell short.

"I had dreams but no expectations. I had never given birth before, and I had never run with Trek-Segafredo before. Looking back, I am very happy with the results of this season," she told Cycling News at the recent Ruler Classic in London.

With his home life settled and the support of his partner, former racer Philippe Deignan, the 2015 road world champion heads into the winter with increased confidence.

"I think I'm in a really strong position this year going into the winter and into next season," she explained.

"I've had a lot going on, raising my first born daughter, riding for a new team, the World Championships at home, and my husband's retirement, but I think I'm settled now. I feel like the winter months are mostly easy."

"I feel like this year has been a learning year. It was a lot easier on the bike, but I feel like I found my feet as a mother as well. Trek Segafredo was great this year, I raced 22 days, which isn't a lot, but from a performance standpoint, I should be racing a lot more in 2020.

This year has brought many positive aspects to Deignan, but she also recognizes that the sport has improved over the past two years and that she must find another level to win the big races on the Women's World Tour.

"The level has gotten harder and that has been amazing. So we know that the ability we had before is not enough. We need to take another step and we need to do that this winter."

"Basically, what it comes down to is that when you set your baseline on intervals, you can't set it at 350 and 360 watts and be happy with 355 watts. It always has to be 360 watts and you need to know that in training that is not enough. There is definitely a lot of pressure on yourself."

Deignan's full race schedule for 2020 has not yet been finalized, but the Trek-Segafredo rider plans to attempt the classics and the Giro before focusing on the Tokyo Olympics.

"Next year I will run the classics and the Giro. I don't always do that. I really like the Olympic courses. Compared to Rio, the climbs in Tokyo are not as bad, and it's more of a classic course, a little bit like Liège. The longest climb is one kilometer, so it's a real classic race."