BÄCKSTEDT BLASTS TO VICTORY AT TOUR DE SUISSE

As soon as Zoe Bäckstedt rocketed up the left-hand side of Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka on the finishing straight of stage 3 at Tour de Suisse, the result was effectively decided.

Launching with 300m still to race, the 21-year-old unleashed a devastating acceleration that instantly separated her from the rest of the peloton. With every pedal stroke, the gap only grew as she powered clear to a dominant stage victory.

Zoe was buzzing with emotion at the finish, celebrating jubilantly with her teammates while still processing what she had just accomplished. The win marks her first WorldTour road race victory, adding to the two WorldTour time trial wins already on her palmarès.

She said:

“I’m so happy. There are probably bigger words to find right now, but happy is the one that comes straight to my mind. Finally, a WorldTour road stage win!”

Having already demonstrated an impressive finishing turn of speed this season – charging to third on a stage at the UAE Tour and fourth at the Tour of Flanders – the team had full confidence in Zoe as their go-to fast woman for the day.

“When I saw this stage on Veloviewer, I kind of hoped I would have a chance to sprint, and the girls did such a good job to make that happen,” Zoe explained. “Aga [Agnieszka] was incredible in the final, Kasia [Niewiadoma-Phinney] as well, and the girls earlier in the stage controlling the breakaway. It’s my victory, but 100% of the credit goes to them.”

Stage 3, starting and finishing in the picturesque spa town of Bad Ragaz, represented the race’s most likely opportunity for a true bunch kick. Even so, fast finishers still had to earn it, with a stinging 2km climb averaging 10% coming almost immediately after the flag drop, with an eight-rider breakaway forming shortly afterwards.

While CANYON//SRAM were not represented in the move, neither were several other key teams, and the group was never allowed to gain a significant advantage. On the meandering, mostly flat roads skirting the principality of Liechtenstein, the gap was carefully controlled before the break was brought back inside the final 20km.

Fast forward to the final few tense moments, and it was Kasia leading the peloton beneath the flamme rouge, with Aga and Zoe tucked in behind. Inside the final 500m as the barriers began, Zoe found herself increasingly swarmed. She calmly re-evaluated, surfed wheels, and navigated into a strong position on the inside of the final sweeping left-hand bend.

Aga kept the pace high to stretch the bunch, and as the riders strung out, Zoe was able to gain ground before calling to her teammate to pull off towards the right. From there, she came with speed and catapulted clear with 300m remaining, looking less like a rider finishing a bunch sprint and more like someone surviving a successful solo breakaway. By the line, she had several bike lengths in hand.

The performance marked the second professional road race victory of Zoe’s career, adding to her stage win at last year’s Baloise Ladies Tour. But, above all, the result underscores just how versatile and exciting a talent she is becoming – as if she wasn’t already. Her decorated career belies her age, yet still hints at how much more there may be to come. At just 21, we are only truly beginning to see how effectively her exceptional physical strength can be transferred into road racing success.

Despite today’s unexpected but not entirely surprising outcome, Zoe – the reigning U23 World Time Trial Champion with a current six-race winning streak against the clock – has her focus firmly fixed on tomorrow’s Tour de Suisse individual time trial.

The 23.7km course around Aarburg features minimal climbing but several technical sections, and also provides an important opportunity to fine-tune positions and processes ahead of the national championships and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.

“I mean, I was more looking at tomorrow – today was just a fun bonus opportunity and with not so many sprinters here, I thought I could try my chances. But realistically, my eyes were always on tomorrow, and they still are. It’s time trial day, my favourite type! I’m especially looking forward to it now.”

Zoe continued:

“Realistically, a victory would be a really good day. We’ll see how I’m feeling and how the course rides tomorrow. For sure, Marlen [Reusser] will be strong, but I’m looking to take my chance again, so we’ll give it everything and see what happens.”

HOW TO FOLLOW

Stage 4 – Tour de Suisse Women | 2.WWT | Sat, June 20 | Aarburg | 23.7km (ITT) | 160m | from 10:45 CET | Live 10:30

Stage 5 – Tour de Suisse Women | 2.WWT | Sun, June 21 | Villars-sur-Ollon | 100.2km | 2812m | 9:00 – 11:53 CET | Live 9:50

Watch every stage live on TNT Sports, Eurosport, HBO Max, SRF Zwei and other regional providers. Stay updated on X with #TourdeSuisse, and follow CANYON//SRAM social channels for the latest team updates.