Bäckstedt was unaware about WorldTour status Ladies Tour and thanks father Magnus: "He said, 'head down!'"
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Follow us on GoogleOn Tuesday, Zoe Bäckstedt won the time trial in the Simac Ladies Tour, marking her first victory in the WorldTour for the only 20-year-old British rider. Afterward, Magnus Bäckstedt's daughter was obviously delighted with that victory. She defeated a row of top riders, from Lotte Kopecky to Riejanne Markus and Lieke Nooijen to Ellen van Dijk. Afterward, however, she was relaxed. She had ... just raced well!
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In the flash interview with Eurosport, the 20-year-old winner spoke about the short thirteen minutes she spent on the bike. "Well, I had a lot of fun on the bike, and it was also enough for the stage win. I'm pleased. I have no idea what the secret recipe was today. Well, maybe my dad then (Magnus, ed.). He was in the back of the car. While I pushed to my limits, he encouraged me."
Read more below the photo.

We know Zoe Bäckstedt as the world cross champion in the underpinnings
Bäckstedt sees Ladies Tour as preparation for cross country and "nice cycling in the wind"
"He said, 'Come on, you can do it, push! Keep your head down. Keep your focus on the bike in front of you,' which helped a lot and could give me extra support. Besides, it was a track for me. The mix between the turns and the longer, straighter sections made the variation perfect. It was also quite technical that way, and otherwise, just go full throttle."
Bäckstedt did not seem fully aware of the status of the Simac Ladies Tour. "My first win in the WorldTour? I didn't even know that," laughed the day's winner. "Then it's even more beautiful. It's a nice build-up to the cross-winter. I'm also happy to beat the rest here; I hope for many nice rides in the wind. I love racing in the Netherlands, and I will enjoy that, especially the wind."
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026


