Zoe Backstedt is riding high – literally! – after an unforgettable week in Britain that saw her land not one, but two national titles, and now she's got her sights set on a dream debut at the prestigious Tour de France Femmes. The 21-year-old Welsh sensation is revving up for August's Grand Depart in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she'll join the cream of women's cycling in a battle royale that promises to be as brutal as it is beautiful.
Backstedt's double whammy began with a barnstorming time-trial victory on Thursday, where she outpaced the competition by nearly 40 seconds over the 25.6km course. But the pièce de résistance came on Sunday, when she pulled off an audacious solo effort in the 128km road race to leave her chasers eating dust. In a stunning display of endurance and skill, Backstedt broke away from the chasing pack early on and then dug deep for the final 14km, crossing the finish line with a commanding lead.
But what's even more remarkable is that this wasn't even Backstedt's first taste of success in recent weeks – she'd already landed her ninth professional win just seven days prior at the Tour de Suisse Femmes. The young Welsh cyclist was bubbling over with excitement when she spoke to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, confessing that competing in the Tour de France Femmes would be an "incredible" experience: "It's giving me goosebumps already!"
As if her own achievements weren't impressive enough, Backstedt comes from a family steeped in cycling tradition. Her father, Magnus, rode the Tour de France no less than seven times between 1998 and 2008 – even notching up a stage win on his debut! Meanwhile, her mum was also a British road race champion, and her elder sister Elynor is currently plying her trade with UAE Team ADQ. "Cycling's just in our blood," Zoe said simply.
So what makes Backstedt tick? She credits the contrasting conditions of the championship week – from sweltering heat to welcome Welsh rain – for helping her performances: "It was a blessing in disguise that the weather cooled down, and I have to say I was grateful for some proper Welsh weather!"
With her sights firmly set on Lausanne, Backstedt is ready to take the women's cycling world by storm. Will she be joining an already stellar field of riders at the Tour de France Femmes? Only time will tell – but one thing's for sure: Zoe Backstedt is a force to be reckoned with.