Lizzie Deignan could miss World Championships after appendix removed

Lizzie Deignan could miss the UCI Road World Championships in Bergen, Norway this month as she recovers from an operation to remove her appendix.

The 28-year-old from Otley, near Leeds, is one of the favourites for the women's road race as she looks to reclaim the rainbow jersey she won in Richmond, Virginia in 2015.

In June, the Boels-Dolmans rider reclaimed the British national road race title and more recently she finished second at La Course by Le Tour de France, held over two stages this year.

On Sunday, she won the French UCI Women's WorldTour race, the GP Plouay, and on Tuesday began the Boels Rental Ladies Tour in the Netherlands.

However, following yesterday's Stage 2 she was taken to hospital with appendicitis and underwent an operation in the evening.

She wrote on Twitter: "I will be taking the rest of the season day by day after having my appendix removed last night ...  it's not ideal but I'll be alright."

I will be taking the rest of the season day by day after having my appendix removed last night... it's not ideal but I'll be alright pic.twitter.com/DBu32lHNoz

— Lizzie Deignan (@lizziedeignan) August 31, 2017

The women's road race in Bergen takes place on Saturday September 23.

Stephen Park, performance director for the Great Britain Cycling Team said: “On behalf of British Cycling, I’d like to send our best wishes to Lizzie following her surgery.

"It’s too early to comment on how this will affect the final team selection for the UCI Road World Championships in Bergen.

"Both Lizzie and the team are hopeful she will be available for selection but what’s important now is Lizzie recovers to full fitness in a time scale that suits her.”