ZOE WINS CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE!

Zoe Bäckstedt Secures U23 Women’s UCI Cyclo-Cross World Champion Title
In a thrilling race at the 2024 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Tábor, Czechia, Zoe Bäckstedt displayed a remarkable show of determination and strategy to clinch the U23 Women’s UCI Cyclo-cross World Champion title. Bäckstedt’s exceptional performance not only secured her victory but also added to her impressive collection of rainbow jerseys. Reflecting on the race, Zoe expressed, “I was nervous coming into the race because I wanted to win this so bad. My plan was to ride my own race, to ride it hard at the start but not use up all my reserves in the first 1-2 laps and still have something left for the final. You can’t go slow on this course, you can’t go easy, you have to go hard.”
Zoe dominated the challenging course, establishing an early lead and extending it over the next laps. The event saw a close battle for the remaining medals, with Kristýna Zemanová (CZE) securing silver and Leonie Bentveld (NED) taking home bronze. Zoe’s triumph in Tábor marked the culmination of an exceptional cyclo-cross season, featuring elite World Cup podium finishes, an overall second place in the U23 World Cup, and a U23 European title.
The victory was witnessed by an enthusiastic crowd in Tábor, and Zoe shared, “The crowd was incredible. I didn’t expect that many people. I had people from British Cycling out on the course trying to shout things to me, and I really couldn’t hear much over the cheering, chainsaws, and noise from the crowd. That type of atmosphere pushes you on a little bit more.” Zoe also expressed her joy at having her support team from CANYON//SRAM and her father in the pits, adding to the significance of the win. Reflecting on her achievement, Zoe said, “It hasn’t sunk in yet… I can see my reflection in the camera now, which is pretty cool, as it’s the first time I’ve seen myself in the jersey! I’m over the moon to have the rainbow jersey on my shoulders and to take it home.”