Zoe Bäckstedt retains junior road race title with stunning solo ride at World Championships
The Welsh rider celebrated her 18th birthday with a 58km solo attack and another rainbow jersey
![Zoe Backstedt wins junior road race at worlds 2022](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cFmFiu3FiihWhdHUDyk3Yk-415-80.jpg)
Even by her own standards, Zoe Bäckstedt’s ride in this morning’s World Championships junior road race was special.
The Welsh rider spent just 15 minutes alongside her rivals on her 18th birthday, before she broke free on a descent and powered alone to victory in Wollongong, Australia. It was the dominant display many expected of her before the race, and one that solidified her status as one of the sport's most promising young talents.
Throughout the race, Bäckstedt navigated the 67.2km course with ease, looking as assured in the corners as she did on the challenging ascents of the steep Mount Pleasant Road. As she came across the line, she sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes, smiling as she toasted a winning margin of over two minutes.
France’s Eglatine Rayer took the silver medal ahead of Dutch 18-year-old Nienke Vinke in a two-up sprint for second place.
The course comprised four laps of a 17km circuit that was almost identical to the one where Bäckstedt won the junior women's individual time trial on Tuesday.
Speaking after her victory in the road race, Bäckstedt revealed that she hadn't originally planned to attack so early.
"I planned to with a lap to go, or something like that, and I came over the climb the first time and I felt really good," the 18-year-old said. "I was climbing at the front which, for a climb like that and for me, the rider I am, is not predicted.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I was in tears from a kilometre to go. There were so many people out on the course shouting my name and happy birthday, especially on the climb. That's where I needed it the most."
Last year in Leuven, Bäckstedt claimed her first road world title, pipping her breakaway companion Kaia Schmid in a sprint to the line. Since then she has enjoyed a commanding season on the junior circuit, notably winning the Tour of Flanders by a minute back in May.
Bäckstedt continued her fine form right up to this year's World Championships. Earlier this month, she completed a clean sweep at the Watersley Challenge juniors race, where she won the overall title as well as all three stages and the mountains classification jersey.
The Welsh rider, who also holds junior world titles in cyclocross and the Madison, will race on the WorldTour for EF Education-TIBCO-SVB next year.
Results
UCI road world championships 2022 - women's junior road race (67.2km)
1. Zoe Bäckstedt (GBr), in 1-47-05
2. Eglantine Rayer (Fra), at 2-07
3. Nienke Vinke (Ned), at same time
4. Francesca Pellegrini (Ita), at 2-19
5. Maho Kakita (Jap)
6. Julia Kopech (Cze)
7. Eleonora Ciabocco (Ita)
8. Xaydee van Sinaey (Bel)
9. Alizée Rigaux (Fra)
10. Noëlle Rüetschi (Swi), all at 2-21
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is the host of The TT Podcast, which covers both the men's and women's pelotons and has featured a number of prominent British riders.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides.
He's also fluent in French and Spanish and holds a master's degree in International Journalism.
-
Unbound Gravel lottery opens two months early, ensuring riders are 'more prepared than ever'
Registration for the 2025 Unbound Gravel will open on Friday, November 1, 2024, and close two weeks later, on November 15. Lottery winners will be announced on November 21, 2024.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Star triathlete Taylor Knibb to take on world's fastest cyclists in the Olympic time trial
Colorado-based 26-year-old Taylor Knibb will be representing Team USA in both the individual time trial and triathlon at the Paris Olympics.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
A parcours for Tadej Pogačar? Rwanda set to be the most mountainous World Championships in 5 years
The cobbled Kigali Hill will feature on both the men's and women's routes
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
'We've both cried during blocks': Inside the Olympic preparations of GB's track sprinting stars
Counting down the days to the sprint finals at the Olympics, Emma Finucane and Sophie Capewell tell Tom Davidson about their final push to find that decisive tenth of a second
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'Ride like you own the road' - Zoe Bäckstedt on Paris-Roubaix Femmes, her Grand Tour debut and her new Red Bull helmet
Bäckstedt recently landed sponsorship from the energy drink giants and joined the likes of Tom Pidcock, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Evie Richards as a Red Bull athlete
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I'd love to be an F1 driver': Get to know GB track sprinter Emma Finucane
World sprint champion tells Cycling Weekly about her earliest Olympics memories, drinking coffee in Jakarta, and her passion for F1
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Great Britain qualifies full track cycling squad for Paris Olympics
Team GB will now select up to 16 riders to compete across the sprint and endurance events
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Great Britain collect best ever medal tally at ‘fantastic’ European Track Championships
Performance director Stephen Park hails squad after claiming 14 medals
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Five riders to watch in UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup opener in Waterloo, USA this weekend
Here's who we think will boss the cross in Waterloo on Sunday
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Zoe Bäckstedt makes mid-season transfer to Canyon-SRAM
The British rider joins her father Magnus at the team, where he is a sports director
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published