Lidl-Trek keen to keep Lizzie Deignan: 'She is always welcome, we love her'

Lidl-Trek are keen to extend Lizzie Deignan’s contract for the next few years with team boss Luca Guercilena telling GCN that "she is always welcome, we love her."

Deignan, 35, is out of contract at the end of the season and is said to be considering her next steps. The British rider had previously stated her desire to keep racing, and ahead of the Tour of Flanders Lidl-Trek were confident that contract negotiations with the former road world champion were moving in the right direction. Deignan crashed out of the race with a fractured arm.

The team are also close to extending Elisa Longo Borghini’s contract with the Italian also on the market for a new deal.

Deignan has been a fundamental part of the team’s success since its inception in 2019. She won the first women’s edition of Paris-Roubaix in 2021 and claimed Liège-Bastogne-Liège the year prior. Although currently out through injury, the team remain hopeful that the British rider can return to form in the second half of the season.

Another rider on the team’s radar is Emma Norsgaard. The Dane currently races for Movistar but has drawn attention from SD Worx, UAE Team ADQ, and Lidl-Trek. Movistar are also in talks to extend with the versatile 24-year-old. Lidl-Trek are also still deciding over the future of Elynor Bäckstedt, who is also out of contract at the end of the year.

Transfer market update

UAE Team ADQ were linked to Demi Vollering but informed GCN last week that they were no longer in the frame for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift champion. FDJ-Suez are now the favourites to sign the Dutch rider after GCN broke the story that she would be leaving SD Worx Protime at the end of the year.

UAE Team ADQ, meanwhile, are still in talks to extend with Chiara Consonni, with sources telling GCN that a deal hasn’t yet been reached.

Elsewhere, Anna Henderson is out of contract at Visma-Lease a Bike and has attracted attention from several teams.

Letizia Paternoster and Alexandra Manly are both on course to sign new contracts at Liv AlUla Jayco but no deals have yet been finalised. Urška Žigart is also set to have contract talks with the Australian team in the coming days.