Tears of joy for Backstedt
WELSH teenager Zoe Backstedt claimed the junior women’s road race at the UCI World Championships in Belgium after a sprint against Kaia Schmid.
The two riders broke clear on the third of five laps in Leuven, then worked well together all the way to the finale to sprint for victory, with Backstedt – who had already won a silver in the junior time-trial earlier in the week – edging it by a bike length.
Backstedt follows in the footsteps of elder sister Elynor, a previous bronze medal winner in the junior World time trial championships, and her success was witnessed at first hand by dad Magnus, who was commentating on the race for Eurosport.
It was the latest chapter in a remarkable family success story for the Backstedt’s with mum Megan a former British champion who also represented Wales in the Commonwealth Games and Swedish-born Magnus a former Tour de France stage winner and Paris-Roubaix winner.
Linda Reidmann led home the chasing group to win the bronze medal.
“I have no words at all,” said a tearful Backstedt at the finish. “I can’t believe I’ve just done that, that was probably the hardest race I have ever done.”
Backstedt countered a move from British team-mate Flora Per
kins during the third lap, where she went clear with Schmid.
Perkins and Millie Couzens did a great job of disrupting the chase behind, while Backstedt and Schmid worked harmoniously together to extend their advantage.
“I was just trying to keep us moving, keep us away from the group behind,” said Backstedt. “I knew I had team-mates in the group. I knew they would be able to help try to get the gap out a little more, and once it was above 30 seconds I knew that I could hold it with the American (Schmid).
“It came down to a sprint and I just had it.”
Schmid was first to open her sprint, but Backstedt had the power to pass her before the line.