Bäckstedt rides into the history books

Junior woman’s win headlines fine World Cup weekend for Brits

- James Shrubsall

A big hug full of fatherly pride from Magnus Bäckstedt was waiting for first-year junior Zoë Bäckstedt after she won the first ever junior women’s cyclo-cross World Cup round at the season-opener in Tabor, Czech Republic, on Sunday.

“My dad was in the pits, and he came running over to me after the podium, and after my race gave me a massive hug, and my mum’s been on the phone to me. My grandparents have been sat round the computer watching the live timings... they’re very proud,” said the 16-year-old Welshwoman.

She was still not home on Monday afternoon when Cycling Weekly caught up with her, having just entered the UK after an 11-hour overnight car journey back from the Czech Republic.

It was a very successful weekend for the British team, with Thomas Mein winning the U23 race and Ben Turner following 31 seconds behind in second place.

New Ineos signing Tom Pidcock, however, found himself uncharacteristically off the pace in the elite men’s race, coming in 17th behind winner Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal). Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) was third. The elite women’s race was won by Lucinda Brand, while Czech rider Matej Stránský won the junior men’s event.