By Hannah Blackwell

Zoe Backstedt continued to prove her versatility as well as her huge potential when she won the Under 23 Women’s title at the European Cyclo-cross Championships in France.

Backstedt added a second European jersey to her 2023 collection at the weekend, after winning the race in sensational style under tough conditions.

Starting strongly on the front row, the 19-year-old Welsh star found herself in a lead pair, quickly riding away from the field with Marie Schreiber.

https://twitter.com/Backstedt_Zoe/status/1721161859846341023?s=20

Backstedt delivered a superb third lap, the fastest in the race, to build a two-second lead on her French rival which – despite a couple of slips – ultimately proved unassailable and she cruised across the finish line to take the win.

It means Backstedt is now European U23 cyclo-cross champion as well as European U23 time trial champion on the road – a crown she won in September.

https://twitter.com/WMNcycling/status/1718260115952820303?s=20

Great Britain made their mark on a jam-packed day of racing following the rescheduling of Saturday’s events due to bad weather in Pont-Château, France.

The GB squad closed out the weekend in style, with Backstedt taking the under-23 women’s title, and Cam Mason and Cat Ferguson adding silver medals to their collections in the elite men’s and junior women’s races, respectively.

Mason gave a career-defining performance to become the first ever Brit to stand on the UEC Cyclo-cross European Championship podium, with a well-earned silver medal win.

Ferguson made it a double silver weekend as she added a junior women’s medal to her team relay success on Friday.

https://twitter.com/BritishCycling/status/1721240772924625013?s=20

Learn more about the latest updates on Zoe Backstedt.

Zoe Backstedt Makes GB Team For Cyclo-cross European Championships