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- Zoe Backstedt Earns Another Breakthrough Win And Says: “It’S Just Been A Fun Week”
Zoe Backstedt made history as the youngest ever winner of the Baloise Ladies Tour, but for Wales’ 20-year-old rising star it was more about what she learned along the way.
Despite sealing the overall victory on Sunday in Zwevegem, Belgium, the Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto rider was quick to shift the focus from her position on the podium to the lessons gathered during a tense and tactical week of racing.
“I think the whole week has been good,” said Backstedt after crossing the finish line.
“I've enjoyed racing. It's been some good also some good learning steps for me, and, yeah, helping, helping the others in the team as well. So yeah, it's just been a fun week. I've really enjoyed,”
Backstedt had seized control of the race with two stage wins on Saturday and held a 12-second lead over Ellen van Dijk going into the final stage.
While the drama on Sunday included a big crash in the finishing straight and a dangerous late solo attack by Scarlett Souren, Backstedt's team kept their young leader protected throughout.
An early breakaway by Mackenzie Coupland briefly threatened her position, but Canyon-SRAM — with help from Team Picnic-PostNL — carefully managed the gap to ensure Backstedt remained in control.
“Yeah, for sure, there was some danger with the breakaway, but it was controlled nicely and came back to a sprint,” she noted.
READ MORE: Zoe Backstedt Says Welsh Country Roads Took Her Home To First Elite National Time Trial Title
With teammate Chiara Consonni taking third in the final sprint and Martina Fidanza winning the stage, Backstedt stayed out of the fray.
Having already done enough to win overall, she rode smartly, especially amid increasingly difficult conditions.
“Super hectic, I think more hectic than I imagined,” she said of the rain-affected final stage.
“I think the rain brought a lot of that tension in the peloton, but once you stopped around halfway, then it got flowing a little bit better. And then it was a little bit more enjoyable.”
The chaotic sprint finale was marred by a crash that brought down Charlotte Kool and several others. Backstedt narrowly avoided the pile-up.
“Yeah, I was next to it, and in the sprint, when you're going so fast, you don't really see what happened,” she said.
“But I really just hope everyone is alright. It sounded, and from my side vision, it looked awful. So yeah, I wish everyone the best.”
READ MORE: Zoe Backstedt Is Age Group World Champion Again
Despite not contesting the sprint herself, Backstedt and her team had considered stepping in if the circumstances had demanded it.
“I think we had two generation riders, so we weren't as strong as other teams with full WorldTour trains,” she explained.
“In the end, we had to gamble a little, and thankfully, it paid off. Otherwise, I think we would have started to help out.”
Now a stage-race winner at senior level, Backstedt remains grounded about what lies ahead.
She acknowledges her strengths may not lie in mountainous terrain, but she sees a promising future in flatter, punchier races — and she’s excited to keep developing.
“We'll see what the future brings. I think maybe you're not going to see me winning at the top of Alpe d'Huez, but yeah, it's maybe some flatter races I could do well at.”
One thing is certain: Backstedt isn’t giving up her love for the mud and grit of cyclocross.
“Oh, 100% I will be there,” she said confidently, confirming her return to the winter discipline.
