Bäckstedt aims for Worlds podium after National Champs win

Eighteen-year-old’s coach, Emma Trott, says ‘anything is possible’ for Bäckstedt ahead of Netherlands showdown

-  Tom Thewlis

After putting on a masterclass to take the elite women’s British national cyclo-cross title, Zoe Bäckstedt said she was “full of confidence” ahead of a tilt at the podium of the Cyclo-cross World Championships later this month.

Bäckstedt dominated proceedings from the start in Milnthorpe, the Lake District, beating her nearest rival by a matter of minutes and capturing the under-23 title as well in the process.

When asked after the race by Cycling Weekly if she could mount a podium challenge at her first Worlds outside the junior ranks (she and her coaches remain unsure if she’ll race with the elites or the U23 riders) in the Netherlands, Bäckstedt said, “Why not?”

“I’m absolutely buzzing after that,” Bäckstedt added. “It means I feel full of confidence now after getting that elite national title. It will be very different at the World Championships, there are a lot of different riders and rider types but I’m so looking forward to it.

“I think, let’s try for the podium out there now,” she added.

Bäckstedt’s thoughts were echoed by her coach, Emma Trott, who told CW that “anything is possible” for the 18-year-old, who already has multiple world titles to her name.

“It’s 100% possible that she can do something in the Worlds,” Trott said. “She has hit a fine run of form, so we’ve just got to keep her where she is now. If we can maintain what she’s doing then anything is possible.

“Although with bike racing you can’t ever get complacent. It’s important to keep riding and keep training hard, then we can get out there and see what happens,” Trott added.