Zoe Bäckstedt equalled her best-ever career result in a UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, finishing 2nd at Round 11 in Maasmechelen, Belgium. This podium finish marked her third World Cup podium of the season, again reinforcing her place among the sport’s elite.

After racing in the dry, gravelly conditions of Benidorm and benefiting from a productive team training camp in Denia, Bäckstedt transitioned comfortably into the exceptionally muddy conditions of Maasmechelen.

“I loved the sun during training camp, but I couldn’t wait to get back to Belgium and race, especially knowing it would be muddy this weekend!”

Throughout the race, Zoe demonstrated immense physical and mental strength, tenaciously fighting back after mistakes and never allowing the lead to slip too far away. The slick conditions and heavy mud made for tricky racing, but it is more the ‘cyclo-cross typical’ conditions where Zoe feels truly at home.

A particularly challenging off-camber section defined the race for many, including Zoe. While leading by five seconds on the final lap, she fell, allowing Blanka Vas (SDW) to pass and gain a small advantage. Zoe launched a frantic chase, clawing back those few precious seconds and almost making it onto Vas’s wheel, but the finish line came too soon and she was forced to settle for second.

“Although I’m a bit disappointed to miss the win by so little, I’m proud of my overall performance – fighting all the way to the line. Overall, I’m happy with another 2nd place! It was a tough day, but the conditions were perfect for me,” Zoe reflected post-race.

With another round in the legs, Zoe’s focus immediately shifts to tomorrow – the final round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Hoogerheide, Netherlands. There’s plenty at stake on this iconic cyclo-cross course, as Zoe currently sits 3rd in the Elite UCI World Cyclo-cross standings, just one point ahead of Vas in 4th and 30 points behind Fem van Empel (TLV) in 2nd.

This second-place finish in Maasmechelen has also helped Zoe strengthen her lead in the U23 UCI World Cyclo-cross standings.

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