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After Trek launches women’s road team, Emily Batty floats the idea of guest-riding the Tour of Flanders

Lizzie Deignan announced as marquee signing as Batty floats idea of guest riding in one-day classic

July 16, 2018
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Following a weekend during which Emily Batty podiumed for the third XC mountain bike World Cup in a row, her team sponsor Trek announced the creation of a new women’s road team with the currently pregnant Lizzie Deignan, nee Armistead, as it’s marquee signing. The team will launch in 2019 to race on the UCI Women’s WorldTour which includes the one-day spring classics which if there were any races on the calendar suit a cross-country mountain bikes like Batty the best.

Trek is the first bike brand to directly own a women’s professional cycling team. “Trek is committed to changing the world by inspiring more people to ride,” explained Trek president John Burke. “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.”

On hearing the news, Batty was pretty stoked welcoming Deignan to the Trek family but also floating an idea that could gain some traction. “Whaaaaaaaaaat?? Maybe this means I can guest ride in the Women’s Tour of Flanders someday,” exclaimed an excited Batty on social media.

The Tour of Flanders is one of the most prestigious one-day races in professional cycling and tackles cycling’s most famed and storied cobbled climbs. Batty has been riding for teams sponsored by Trek since 2010 when she joined Trek World Racing. She is now a member of the Trek Factory Racing team, and represented Canada at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.

Lizzie Deignan

Deignan is just the first rider to be announced for the team and is a former winner of Flanders. She plans to return to racing for the 2019 road world championships in Yorkshire and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“I’m thrilled to partner with Trek and to support the company’s mission to affect major progress in the sport,” said Deignan. “The goals of the team perfectly align with my personal and professional goals, and I’m excited to be part of it.”