Zoe Bäckstedt Wales
Even at just 20 years old, Zoe Bäckstedt boasts a golden palmarés. Most recently, she scored her first professional road win in the stage one time trial of the WorldTour Simac Ladies Tour, but that doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of her achievements.
Back in 2022, Zoe kicked off the year by winning the 2021-2022 Junior Cyclo-cross World Championship title, before adding Junior World titles in Road, Time Trial, and Madison – all in the same year. This success followed her Junior Road World Champion title in 2021, along with a host of European and national titles.
Making the leap to U23 cyclo-cross during the 2022/2023 winter period, Zoe’s strong season culminated in a British title and a silver medal at the UCI World Championships in Hoogerheide, before shifting her focus to the road.
Ahead of the 2023/2024 cyclo-cross season, Zoe signed a three-year deal with the CANYON//SRAM Zondacrypto WorldTour team. She quickly demonstrated that the change in scenery was a successful one, winning the Youth Classification at the Simac Ladies Tour (2.WWT) and claiming the U23 European Time Trial title on her new Canyon Speedmax, besting trade teammate Antonia Niedermaier.
Zoe says, “I was excited about the opportunities at CANYON//SRAM Racing. I get to race with a strong squad and have the freedom to race in any discipline I want to, as well. The team made a lot of developments last year and I really like that. Plus, the bikes and kit are pretty cool!”
A multi-disciplinary racer at heart, Zoe remains CANYON//SRAM Zondacrypto’s resident cyclo-crosser, flying the team flag during the road off-season while many others go into winter hibernation. She capped off a phenomenal 2023/2024 season by winning the rainbow jersey at the U23 World Cyclo-cross Championships in Tábor, Czechia – one better than the year prior. Zoe’s victory in Tábor capped off an outstanding cyclo-cross season, which included three elite World Cup podium finishes, second place overall in the U23 World Cup, and a U23 European title.
Currently in the midst of the 2024/2025 cyclo-cross season, Zoe achieved a career highlight by securing her best-ever result in the Cyclo-cross World Cup elite category with a brilliant second-place finish on the iconic Zonhoven course.
Her biggest target now is the 2025 Cyclo-cross World Championships in Liévin, France – just a stone’s throw from her home in Belgium. After that, she’ll gradually transition back to road racing, and the never-ending cycle of multi-discipline seasons will roll on.
Palmares
2025
Cyclo-cross
- UCI U23 Cyclo-cross World Champion
- 2nd – Superprestige Gullegem (C2)
- 5th elite, 1st U23 – UCI World Cup Round Dendermonde (CDM)
- 6th elite, 1st U23 – UCI World Cup Round Benidorm (CDM)
- 2nd elite, 1st U23 – UCI World Cup Round Maasmechelen (CDM)
- 6th elite, 1st U23 – UCI World Cup Round Hoogerheide (CDM)
Road
- 15th – Paris Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift (1.WWT)
2024
Road
- Stage Winner – TT Stage, Simac Ladies Tour (2.WWT)
- Winner – Youth Classification, Simac Ladies Tour (2.WWT)
- Leader – General Classification (3 Stages), Simac Ladies Tour (2.WWT)
- Leader – Youth Classification (6 Stages), Simac Ladies Tour (2.WWT)
- 3rd – General Classification, Simac Ladies Tour (2.WWT)
- 4th – TTT Stage, La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es (2.WWT)
- 16th – Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift (1.WWT)
- 2nd – Antwerp Port Epic (1.1)
- 6th – TT Stage, Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l’Ardèche (2.1)
Cyclo-cross
- UCI U23 Cyclo-cross World Champion
- 2nd – U23 Overall Classification, UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Series 2023/2024
- 7th elite, 2nd U23 – UCI World Cup Round Antwerp
- 3rd elite, 1st U23 – UCI World Cup Round Dublin
- 7th elite, 2nd U23 – UCI World Cup Round Hulst
- 2nd elite, 1st U23 – UCI World Cup Round Zonhoven
2023
Road
- European U23 Time Trial Champion
- Winner – Youth Classification, Simac Ladies Tour (2.WWT)
- 5th – General Classification, Simac Ladies Tour (2.WWT)
- 3rd – Stage, Simac Ladies Tour (2.WWT)
- 9th – Stage, Simac Ladies Tour (2.WWT)
Cyclo-cross
- European U23 Cyclo-cross Champion
- British Elite Women Cyclo-Cross National Champion
- 2nd – UCI U23 Cyclo-Cross World Championships
- 2nd – Nommay Cyclo-cross
- 4th – Gavere Cyclo-cross
- 4th – Besançon Cyclo-cross
- Winner – Major Taylor Cross Cup #1, Indianapolis
- Winner – Major Taylor Cross Cup #2, Indianapolis
- 2nd – Trek CX Cup, USA
- 5th – Elite category, UCI World Cup #1 Waterloo
- 5th – U23 category, UCI World Cup #1 Waterloo
- 3rd – Kiremko Nacht Van Woerden Cyclo-cross
- 3rd – UCI World Cup Round Dendermonde
- 8th – UCI World Cup Round Troyes
- Leader four races, U23 Cyclo-cross World Cup general classification
- 3rd – UCI World Cup Round Dublin
2022
Road
- UCI Junior Road World Champion, Wollongong
- UCI Junior Time Trial World Champion, Wollongong
- UCI Junior Cyclo-cross World Champion, Hoogerheide
- Winner – General Classification, Watersley Challenge Juniors
- Winner – Mountain Classification, Watersley Challenge Juniors
- Stage Winner (x3) – Watersley Challenge Juniors (2.Ncup)
- Winner – Ronde van Vlaanderen Juniors
- British Junior Time Trial National Champion
- British Junior Road National Champion
- Winner – Puivelde
- Winner – General Classification, Omloop Borsele Juniors
- Winner – Points Classification, Omloop Borsele Juniors
- Winner – Sprint Classification, Omloop Borsele Juniors
- Stage Winner (x2) – Omloop Borsele Juniors
- Winner – General Classification, U6 Cycle Tour
- Winner – Points Classification, U6 Cycle Tour
- Winner – Youth Classification, U6 Cycle Tour
- Stage Winner (x6) – U6 Cycle Tour
Cyclo-cross
- 3rd – Gullegem cyclo-cross
- European Junior Cyclo-cross Champion
Track
- UCI Junior Madison World Champion, Tel Aviv
2021
Road
- UCI Junior Road World Champion, Leuven
- British Junior Time Trial National Champion
- 2nd – Junior Time Trial, UCI World Championships, Leuven
- Winner – Youth Classification, Watersley Challenge Juniors
- Winner – General Classification, Watersley Challenge Juniors
- Winner – General Classification, Junior Women Tour of Yorkshire
- Winner – Stage, Junior Women Tour of Yorkshire
- 2nd – Stage, Junior Women Tour of Yorkshire
Cyclo-cross
- Winner – Essen cyclo-cross
- Winner – Stockholm cyclo-cross
- Winner – Täby Park cyclo-cross
- 2nd – Overall, UCI Cyclo-Cross Junior World Cup
Track
- European Individual Pursuit champion
- European Madison champion
- British Junior Individual Pursuit champion
- British Junior Madison champion
2020
Cyclo-cross
- Winner UCI Cyclo-Cross Junior World Cup
2025
In 2016, CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto made its mark at the highest level of women’s cycling, debuting in the UCI Women’s WorldTour. With 18 riders from 11 countries, the team is home to a diverse and ambitious group of elite time trialists, seasoned winners, and rising talents—each one a leader in the women’s peloton. United by a shared passion for progress, they are committed to breaking new ground, constantly challenging themselves and their competitors, and investing in the future of women’s cycling.
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