‘I was giving it my all’ - Zoe Backstedt on career-best World Cup second place
Brit led for half of the race in treacherous condition🌱s
168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Zoe Backstedt clinched a career-best ▨second place in the elite women's cyclocross World Cup in Zonhoven, following a valiant ride which saw her lead for over half of the event.
The 20-year-old Britisℱh rider led from the start after powering through the technical sand sections, including the infamous Kuil sand descent.
Her lead of around 20 seconds was pulled back in the second half of the race and a three-way battle followed, with experienced cyclocross riders 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) and 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck).
A mistake i꧋n a technical section by Brand with just over a lap remaining held up Backstedt 🥃and resulted in Alvarado gaining an unassailable advantage.
Backstedt gave it everything on the final lap in an attempt to pul𒉰l back the leader but finished five seconds behind.
The Canyon-SRAM rider took inspiration from under-23 rival Marie Schreiber (SD Worx-Protime) who led from start to finish to win in yesterday’s 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:World Cup round in Hulst.
“For the first two laps that’s what I was thinking, maybe I can hold thisౠ for a little bit longer,” said Backs🥂tedt.
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“In the end, Ceylin (Del Car🍃men Alvarado) and Lucinda (Brand) were just super-strong. There was some tired legs at the end and I was able to battle with Lucinda for that second sꦅpot.
&ldquꦚo;I was 🌳giving it my all and was thankfully able to beat Lucinda on the line.”
Backstedt has be working with Canyon-SRAM's newly-hired cyclo🎉cross director Geert Wellens. The pair also worked together when Backstedt was racing for Acrog-Tormans team in the under-19 category.
Her t🌞echnique in the Kuil sand descent enabled her to establ🐈ish an early lead, whilst initial chaser Annemarie Worst (Cyclocross Reds) crashed out.
“There was onl🅷y one time when I had an almost crash on that second downhill,” added Backstedt.
“I was going down it and you could hear the crowds going ‘oooh&r🦹squo; and in my head I was also thinking ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ‘oooh’.
“I had some fun.”
Backstedt took a trio of third places in World Cup rounds last season before also scoo⛎ping the under-23 cyclocross World Cham♔pionships.
The🉐 British rider then switched onto the road and finished 16th in Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift and runner-up at Antwerp Port Epic Ladies.
She then came into the ‘cross season in good form having won the individual time trial at the Simac Ladies Tour and 🌠placing third overall.
Backstedt faᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚces tough competition to defend her under-23 cyclocross World Chamℱpionship crown in February from Schreiber and European champion Célia Gerry.
Meanwhile, 168澳洲5最新🃏开奖结果:victory in Zonhoven was taken by Alvara🌃do who recovered from sickness the previous day Hulst to take her second World Cup win of thꩵe♏ season.
“In the beginniꦿng, I didn’t believe that Backstedt would come back to us, I was with Lucinda (Brand) and I could see (Backstedt) wasn’t that far ahead,” said Alvarado.
“We went really deep and then we were there. After yesterday’s feeling today was totally dif𝕴ferent, I didn’t expect to win so it’s an even better victory.&rdquo♛;
Meanwhile, Brand was left reflecting on an opportunitౠy missed after a mistake on a technical corner in the sand allowed Alvarado to ride away to victory.
“It went well and not so well,” said Brand. “I had a change in feelings. I felt super-strong in the first half💝.
“There was a corner and when it goes bad, it goes bad. I&rsquo🔜;ve hated that corner all my life, I really hate it. I try but I reall⛦y cannot do it.
“I wasꦍ really a🌟iming for more and during the race I also felt that I was getting stronger. Just over halfway I began to struggle again and my legs started to blow away again.
“I rea♛lly don’t know why, the cold on my legs doesn’t help.”
Despite Brand having to settle for third on the podium she extended her lead iꦉn the𓆉 overall series over the World Cup weekend double-header.
Theဣ Baloise Trek Lions rider finished runner-up at Hulst the previous day and now leads the series by 31 points.
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Ben raced as an amateur cyclist in the UK from a young age into the senior ranks on the road, track and in cyclocross. He has an NQJ qualification in journalism, and a sports journalism degree, and has spent over 10 years as a news and sports journalist. Ben has been covering cyclocross for media outlets, including Cyclingnews, since 2021 and has been on the ground reporting at World Championships in Zolder, Belvaux, Valkenberg, Dubendorf, and Hoogerheide. Away from cycling as a freelance sports journali꧂st, Ben regularly reports on a range of sports including football, rugby, and snooker amongst others. However, he is happiest whilst reporting on-site at cyclocros💛s races in Belgium and the Netherlands.