06.09.2024 Continental, News, Race news

ZOE SPEEDS TO SIXTH IN ARDÈCHE TIME TRIAL

Zoe Bäckstedt has marked her return to racing post illness with an encouraging sixth place in the fourth stage time trial of the Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l’Ardèche.

Finishing 40 seconds down on first place and 23 seconds away from the podium, Zoe is feeling a mix of satisfaction and disappointment about her result.

“I wish I could have done better, but considering the summer I’ve had and how this week is the first real test I’ve had since my illness, I’m also happy with it at the same time. I think give me an hour and I’ll be even happier with it.”

The 15km from Goudargues to Méjannes Le Clap could be neatly broken down into an opening flat 5km, a 7km gradual climb to achieve the 283m of elevation gain, and a 3km slight downhill drag to the finish.

It wasn’t the ideal style of course for Zoe, but she is happy to gain confidence about her current fitness heading towards the Simac Ladies Tour and the 2024/2025 cyclo-cross season.

“If it was pancake flat and in just one line then it would have been amazing and I think I would have loved that. It was different to do it uphill, and I’ve never really done a time trial on such a long climb. That was something new.”

“Also mentally, having to keep pushing and trying to stay in the skis for the whole climb so that you were trying to stay as aero as possible, was tough.”

The next time Zoe will race with her Canyon Speedmax CFR will be during the opening 10km time trial of the Simac Ladies Tour on October 8, where the terrain will be more to her favour.

Nastya Kolesava was the second best rider of CANYON//SRAM Generation, finishing 32nd at 1.58 minutes down which currently places her 18th in the general classification.

With two days remaining, including over 2200m of climbing crammed into 104km on stage five, the demanding Ardéche terrain will no doubt provide many more opportunities for a GC plot twist.