Zoe Backstedt Becomes Double European Youth Olympic Champion As She Blasts Away Her Rivals In Baku

Zoe Backstedt is a double European Youth Olympic champion after following up her gold medal in the time trial with victory in the road race at Baku 2019.

The 14-year-old rising Welsh star was helped into a three rider break by teammate Millie Couzens early on in the 50km race before pulling away on her own in the final few kilometres to seal a convincing win.

Not far behind Backstedt, Couzens then led out Imani Pereira-James for a sprint finish for fourth, with the Glasgow rider finishing in sixth.

In winning both events, Backstedt becomes the first female to win both the time trial and road race at an Olympic event and only the third cyclist after Bernhard Eisel and Elia Viviani to win two road cycling events at the same Games.

“It’s been tough to win these medals but hearing that stat is pretty special. Hopefully one day I can achieve what they’ve been able to,” said Backstedt.

“Our team goal was to get one of us on the podium. The winds were tough today, they were incredibly strong, so I’m really pleased I managed to get the win.

“It wasn’t the fastest of starts today so I tried to stay in the wheels until a gap opened up after the first climb on the descent. Millie [Couzens] left a little bit of a gap which allowed us to get away.

“We worked together for about 15km and then I felt I was still really strong so pulled away and managed to solo until the finish.”

In the boys’ race, Finlay Pickering was the top ranked Team GB rider in sixth after the Hull cyclist managed to get himself across to the break group but was unable to ride away before the sprint finish conclusion to the 75km race.

Team GB have now won 16 medals at the Baku 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival: six gold, eight silver and two bronze.