Just as when she delivered that podium speech in Roubaix, of which she says “there was pressure on that interview”, Deignan chooses her words carefully but effectively here.
The “underestimation” she refers to is any suggestion by others that women’s sport somehow lacks the same punch or power as men’s.
And posts on social media have also had an impact all three agree – and that the impact has been largely positive.
“Social media’s had a huge influence on women’s sport,” says Deignan, who has won many of the sport’s biggest races, including the one-day Tour de France and Liege Bastogne Liege classic.
“If there’s any inequality it’s called out very quickly, and we are able to present ourselves to sponsors off our own backs; people can become their own brand in sport.
“It has its down side – [Cat and Imogen] are under more pressure than ever. People know everything you’re doing and know how you’re performing. But it is worth it as long as you learn how to manage expectation and pressure.”
Ferguson adds that “it doesn’t feel like pressure yet”.
“It’s all so new and exciting,” she says. “Maybe we’ll feel it more as we get older.”
But the pressure comes from all areas, including sometimes the top as she recalls an issue with world cycling’s governing body.
“In my post-race interview in the London 2012 Olympics, I was asked to shake the hand of the UCI president [at the time Pat McQuaid] and I was a little bit annoyed. He was doing nothing for the female side of the sport and was getting away with it.
“I took that opportunity to speak up in the press conference. [As] the first medallist for GB, suddenly you become the headlines – it was quite daunting.
“I’m still happy I did it. It’s the way I’d been brought up. It didn’t seem like a big deal to me to shout about the inequality I was facing.
“But I realise now it’s not as easy for everyone to do that, confrontation isn’t comfortable for everybody.”
“The work Lizzie has done in the sport enabled me and Imogen to have careers,” concurs Ferguson. “Ultimately to get paid when we are 18, [when] I don’t think it was possible for Lizzie to do that when she was 18.
“There’s also so much more legislation in cycling, such as maternity pay and it’s down to Lizzie.”
