Lizzie Deignan backed fellow Brit Zoe Bäckstedt to follow in her footsteps and challenge for the Lloyds Tour of Britain green jersey on home roads this week.
The Olympic medallist won the general classification of her home tour twice, when it was known as The Women’s Tour, and remains the only Brit to have done so.
But Deignan expects 21-year-old Welsh star Bäckstedt to compete to become the second home winner of the British round of the UCI Women’s WorldTour.
“Zoe has absolutely got a chance in the GC here. I’m really excited to see what she does again,” she said.
“She’s had a phenomenal season. She’s been winning since she was very young, but she’s had a couple of years now in the Women’s WorldTour.
“You’re starting to see she’s making that transition to being a winner in the elite.”
Pontyclun-born Bäckstedt will enjoy two stages in her home nation of Wales with The Great Orme and Llanidloes both seeing the tour pass through.
And she has been in form this year, entering the Lloyds Tour of Britain fresh off a Tour de France Femmes debut with Canyon//SRAM, having won the GC at the Baloise Ladies Tour in Belgium and claimed the national title in the road race and time trial.
If she can overcome any fatigue from the TdFF which finished just 10 days before the start in Cockermouth, Bäckstedt is in prime position to restore the overall crown to British hands for the first time in seven years.
“A home tour was hugely important. It meant the opportunity for my friends and family to go and support me,” said the 37-year-old from Otley.
“But it’s also just the pride in being a British athlete. We’re now standing here with an equal race to the men and that’s really important and I’m really proud of that.
“It represents one of the best organised races in the world.”
This year has seen the women’s edition brought to parity with the men’s with five stages – up from four previously.
Deignan, who was speaking at the Family Cycling Festival in Blackpool where stage two finished, is now sporting director at GB cycling where she will work with the road squads ahead of the LA 2028 Olympics.
“It’s so important that we have stage races. It brings out the best in different athletes,” she explained.
“You have an opportunity as a rider who will grow through a stage race, whereas you have specialists who focus on classics.
“It’s important that it’s not just the Tour de France Femmes that grows, but that the whole of cycling grows alongside it and the Lloyds Tour of Britain is definitely one of those growing in prestige.”
British Cycling is inspiring riders and fans across the country through the Lloyds Tour of Britain, bringing the sport to life and celebrating the joy of cycling through Britain's biggest free-to-spectate cycling event. Visit britishcycling.org.uk
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