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Zoe Backstedt Says Welsh Country Roads Took Her Home To First Elite National Time Trial Title

Zoe Backstedt Says Welsh Country Roads Took Her Home To First Elite National Time Trial Title

Zoe Backstedt of Canyon. Pic. Alamy

She is already one of Welsh sport’s most decorated young stars but Zoe Backstedt, from Pontyclun in Mid-Glamorgan, has now added a senior elite title to her age group victories.

Zoe Backstedt basked in the thrill of a home crowd as she powered to her first elite title at the British National Road Championships, capturing the women’s time trial crown on familiar Welsh roads in Ceredigion.

The 20-year-old Welsh rider, representing CANYON//SRAM Racing, delivered a commanding performance on Thursday, stopping the clock at 38 minutes and 48 seconds - 19 seconds faster than defending champion Anna Henderson (Lidl-Trek), and well ahead of third-place finisher Pfeiffer Georgi (Team Picnic PostNL), who came in 1:27 off the pace.

What made the victory even sweeter for Backstedt was the support she felt throughout the course, which began in Ffos-y-ffin and ended in Aberaeron.

“This event, it's not quite home, but it's still home – it's still Wales,” she said after her win.

“It's super nice to be here. There were a lot of people cheering me on.

“Some marshalls on the course at the start shouted my name, and I'm like, I've not even started, and they're already cheering me on, I really love that feeling.”

From the outset, Backstedt laid down a statement of intent, clocking the fastest opening split before maintaining her edge with one of the quickest second laps.

Her consistent speed over the rolling terrain secured her the elite women’s time trial title for the first time.

“I'm super happy. I think it was a little bit unexpected, I was up against Anna Henderson who’s the reigning national champion, so I think I would've just been happy with a podium finish,” she admitted.

Despite falling short in her title defense, Henderson was gracious in defeat, noting: “A tentative start may have impacted my chances of retaining the national champion’s jersey,” but added that she was pleased it had gone to “a really good home.”

Backstedt’s next challenge will come on Sunday in the road race, where Georgi is aiming for a third straight title.

They will line up alongside Zoe’s sister Elynor Backstedt and Welsh rider Megan Barker.

Barker’s older sister, Elinor, who placed 16th in the time trial, announced she is pregnant and will not race again this season.

In the men’s competition, Welsh hopes rest on Owain Doull, as Josh Tarling and Geraint Thomas are sidelined after crashes in the Giro d’Italia and Tour de Suisse, respectively.

But for now, the spotlight remains firmly on Zoe Backstedt, who showed that a home crowd and a familiar landscape can make all the difference on a championship stage.