Two days before Elinor Barker took on Liège-Bastogne-Liège, she celebrated a little early. Unox Pro Cycling announced a four-year contract extension, which means she will be wearing the yellow and red colors of the top team until 2027.

"I'm really happy to extend my contract through 2027. Thank you for your trust in Uno-X," Barker posted on his Instagram on Friday.

The British track star and Olympic gold medalist signed a road racing contract with the Women's WorldTour team for 2022-2023. However, her intentions to bring the mighty sprint to the Norway-based team were delayed when she became pregnant with her first child, son Nico, in the summer of 2021 and missed 2022 on maternity leave.

Barker returned to racing in Spain this past February, finishing 15th in the Vuelta CV Feminas. She then switched gears back to track, teaming with Kate Archibald to win the women's Madison at the UEC Track Elite European Championships, and a second gold medal in the women's team pursuit.

After completing the Volta Comunitat Valenciana, Barker survived tough weather and crashes to finish seventh in Ghent-Wevelgem, her first World Tour race after maternity leave.

"I'm really happy to be back," a shaken Barker told Cycling News after the rain-soaked spring classic.

"Honestly, I don't know where I came back from, but it's definitely my best result in a World Tour race."

In La Flèche Wallonne, which leads from Liège-Bastogne to Liège, Barker finished 16th, the best time for the Uno-X team.

"I left my legs in Mar. I'm looking forward to the last race on Sunday in Liège to close out the classic season."

Ghent-Wevelgem added to the positive environment she felt in Uno-Ex and helped her gain confidence in her performance.

"The team was incredibly supportive.

"If they weren't open-minded, I think this would have been very different. They do things very differently than other teams or other employers do. That also gives me a lot of motivation. So far it's going really well."

In January, Barker's teammate Jocelyn Roden announced her pregnancy and maternity leave for 2023. Uno-X Pro Cycling management said they could not replace her, who is racing with 15 riders, and will offer to renew her contract for next season. She also said that under UCI rules, a WorldTour team can reduce her salary to 50% for the next five months after a three-month maternity leave, but the team will continue to pay her full salary.

Jens Haugland, general manager and CEO of Uno X, told Cycling News that the team will continue to pay Loden 100% of her salary in 2023, as she has been offered a contract renewal for 2024.

"At the moment we don't have any plans to replace her," Haugland said. Jos will receive 100% of her contract this year, and (if she continues to race) her contract will automatically be extended for another year," Haugland said.