Lizzie Deignan will retire at the end of the season
To have the Lloyd's Tour of Britain Women back on the road after some troubled times is a blessing for women's sport.
And two 19-year-old British riders competing in the event and making a significant impact on road cycling globally are explaining who inspired them to take up the sport.
At a luxury hotel on the outskirts of Darlington, Imogen Wolff looks across at two-time Tour of Britain winner Lizzie Deignan, a little uncomfortably, to tell her that the speech she delivered following her momentous 2021 Paris-Roubaix win is the reason she is at a bike race at all.
Alongside her is housemate Cat Ferguson, the current junior road race world champion and rider for the World Tour Movistar team.
