Lizzie Deignan will lead a six-rider field at the UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire at the end of September. The former world champion expressed her delight at being selected for the elite women's road race, especially since it will be held so close to her hometown.

"It is always an honor to be selected to represent your country and I can't wait to do so again in Yorkshire in September," Deignan said in a team press release. 'It's a chance to race on my home course and in front of my friends and family, so it will be something special. The strength of the British team this year is fantastic. Women's cycling is very exciting in this country and we have some really talented riders joining the team. I look forward to racing with them.

Deignan returned to competition with Trek-Segafredo in April, eight months after the birth of her daughter. She is focused on competing in the Yorkshire World Championships and the Tokyo Olympics next August. After the Olympics, she plans to retire.

Deignan will lead an elite six-member women's road race team that includes sisters Hannah and Alice Barnes, Lizzie Banks, Nikki Juniper, and Anna Hendersen. The women will run 149 km on September 28.

"In road racing, Lizzie Deignan has publicly stated that she will be selected for the road world championships held in her home country and is returning to racing at a very high standard this season," said Chris Newton, Team GB's women's coach.

"Hannah Barnes is used to competing at this level and has had a consistently strong season for her professional team. Like the time trial course, the hills of the road race course suit Alice Burns' skills. Likewise, Lizzie Banks is confident in her abilities on this tough course, as evidenced by her victory in the prestigious Giro Rosa stage 8 in July.

Nicky Juniper has also proven to be a valuable teammate when representing Great Britain in major races.

"Having this race in Yorkshire has given everyone even more motivation.

The 30km individual time trial on September 24 will feature reigning British road and time trial champions Alice Burns and Hayley Simmonds.

"The level of women road riders has improved over the years. The technical time trial course will play to Alice's strengths, and likewise, Hayley won a bronze medal on similar terrain at the Commonwealth Games 2018, so we know she can perform on a course like this."

Elite Women's Time Trial (September 24)

Alice Barnes, 24, Northamptonshire

Hayley Simmonds, 30, Cambridgeshire

Elite Women's Road Race ( September 28)

Lizzie Banks (28, 35] [36] Alice Barnes (24, Northamptonshire) [37] [38] Hannah Barnes (26, Northamptonshire) [39] [40] Lizzie Daynian (30, Yorkshire) [41 ][42] [42] Nicky Juniper (38, Essex) [43] [44] Anna Henderson (20, Buckinghamshire) [45