Elizabeth Duignan (UK, Riddle Trek) announced on November 15 that she will retire from playing at the end of the 2025 season. The 35-year-old has achieved outstanding results, winning the Road World Championship in 2015 and becoming the first winner of the Paris-Roubaix Femme in 2021.
Elizabeth Duignan (UK) won the 2015 Road World Championships photo: Kei Tsuji
“The reason I decided to retire was because my motivation to win had changed. However, the team offered me a new role as a road captain who would lead the young players. This gave me motivation in a different way. The team My new goal is to bring out the best in my mates. Above all, my love for cycling has never changed,” Duignan said in a press release announcing his retirement.
A former track and field athlete, Duignan began his career as a road athlete in 2007. He won a silver medal in the road race at the 2012 London Olympics, and in 2013 moved to Poels Dolmans, the predecessor of SD Works Pro Time. After that, Duignan made great strides and won the 2015 Road World Championship in Richmond, USA. The acquisition of Arcandier was a major turning point in his career.
Elizabeth Duignan (UK) lifting the Pave trophy after winning the Paris-Roubaix Femme photo: CorVos
In her private life, she married Philip Duignan (Ireland), who was a member of Team Sky at the time, and took her current surname from Lizzie Armistead. Even after giving birth to her first child in 2018, she showed no signs of slowing down and won the 2020 Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femme. The following year, in 2021, he became the first winner of the Paris-Roubaix Femme, which was held for the first time.
Duignan returned to racing in 2023 after giving birth to her second child in 2022. Although individual victory was far away, she devotedly supported ace Elisa Longoborghini (Italy). This season, in which he participated in 46 races, he showed the determination of a veteran, winning the team time trial at the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas and winning the mountain award at his local Tour of Britain.
Elizabeth Duignan (UK) hopes for the final season photo: CorVos
“Many people want to retire at the peak of their career, but I don’t have that idea. My ideal retirement is to accept who I am now and contribute to the victory of my teammates.” , talked about his determination for the final season.
In addition, Longoborghini will transfer to UAE team ADQ for next season’s Riddle Trek. Next season, Duignan will support ace sprinter Elisa Balsamo (Italy) and overall ace Gaia Realini (Italy).
text:Sotaro.Arakawa
photo:Lidl – Trek
