Lizzie Deignan has written her name in cycling folklore after a historic win in the inaugural Paris-Roubaix Femmes.The Yorkshire rider has achieved something no British man has ever done in the 125 years of the French road race.In just the first instalment of the women's race, Deignan is the first ever British winner of the Paris-Roubaix and indeed, the first ever female to win the event.The 32-year-old powered clear of the peloton before reaching the unforgiving cobbled surface of the circuit. The infamous section known as the 'hell of the north' is known for causing rider errors but Deignan held strong and took to the surface with care. The two-time Women's Road World Cup champion kept up a lead of two minutes and 30 seconds as she navigated her way over the Paris-Roubaix cobbles.Despite the heavy rainfall and thick mud, Deignan finished ahead of Dutch cyclist Marianne Vos, who halved the lead with less than 10km to go in the unruly conditions.

The Trek-Segafredo star crossed the line with a total finish time of 2:56:07, one minute and 17 seconds in front of Vos.

"I feel so incredibly proud – women's cycling is at a turning point and today is a part of history," Deignan said following her milestone victory. 

"I'm also proud to be part of a team making history, and even fans watching at home are making history to show there's an appetite for women's cycling - and that these athletes can do one of the hardest races in the world."

Lizzie Deignan

Deignan scooped a total prize pot of Â£1,300 for her historic performance and now shifts her attention to contesting the Women's Tour of Britain, which gets underway from Monday.

The Brit holds the most amount of Women's Tour wins with two, and will be looking to retain her crown after winning the last instalment of the event in 2019.