Deignan on La Course: Today was just a bad day from the start to the finish

DENIA SPAIN JANUARY 19 Elisabeth DeignanArmitstead of United Kingdom during the Team TrekSegafredo Women Elite 2021 Training TrekSegafredo on January 19 2021 in Denia Spain Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
(Image credit: Getty Images)

She won La Course by Le Tour de France in emphatic style in Nice last year after displaying a tactical masterclass alongside teammate Elisa Longo Borghini, but defending champion Lizzie Deignan was unable to repeat her 2020 result today on the Cote de la Fosse aux Loups. The Trek-Segafredo rider was within touching distance of the front group of favourites on the final ascent of the climb, but was unable to follow the final few attacks of the race, eventually finishing 9th. Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx) won the race in a sprint finish from a small group.

“To be honest today was just a bad day from the start to the finish,” the 33-year-old said in a post-race interview. “I felt terrible. So I knew it was just about suffering and I just didn’t have it when I needed it. I didn’t have the finish like the girls in front.”

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