Zoe Bäckstedt Begins Cross Season in USA, Aims for World Cups and Championships
Zoe Bäckstedt, of CANYON//SRAM Racing, is set to kickstart her 2023/2024 cyclo-cross campaign in the USA this weekend. She will debut at the Major Taylor Cross Cup in Indianapolis, followed by the first round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Waterloo.
The 19-year-old rider, who recently concluded a successful road season, expressed her excitement and a touch of nerves for the upcoming cross season, saying, “I’m hyped for the coming cross season! It’s approached fast, it seems, after a fun road season! The excitement level is 90, and the nerves are at level 10, ha!”
Bäckstedt’s preparation for the cyclo-cross season began during her debut road race with CANYON//SRAM Racing at the Simac Ladies Tour, where she won the Best Young Rider classification. She continued her success by winning the U23 Individual Time Trial at the European Road Championships and putting in a strong performance in the U23 road race.
Feeling confident after her road season, Bäckstedt stated, “I’m feeling pretty good! I ended my road season on a high, and my form was certainly there, so I’m hoping that will stick with me for a while into the start of the cross-racing.”
While most of her preparation has been on the road, Bäckstedt made sure to get in a few cross sessions to familiarize herself with the CX bike and the dry, dusty conditions ahead of the races in America.
Her goals for the first two weekends of the season are to get a good feeling on the CX bike and test out her new equipment, including the Canyon Inflite CFR with SRAM RED eTap AXS. However, Bäckstedt also has her sights set on the U23 World Cups, European Championships, and World Championships this season. She added, “I’d love to take an elite podium in a world cup too, but we will see what the season brings.”
After the USA races, Bäckstedt’s schedule will take her back to Europe for Cyclo-cross Ruddervoorde, the second round of the Cyclo-Cross World Cups in Maasmechelen, and the European Championships. With an impressive track record and a determination to succeed, Bäckstedt is poised for a strong cyclo-cross season ahead.
