Cyclocross season debut delayed due to double fracture sustained in training spill.
Gold medalist Zoe Backstedt (Great Britain) celebrates her victory in the under 23 women’s time trial at the UCI Cycling road world championships in Kigali, Rwanda, September 22 (Photo: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Published November 1, 2025 05:30PM
World under 23 time trial champion Zoe Bäckstedt has been left with two fractures and a big scare following a training crash on Friday.
The 21 year old was clear that the spill could have been very serious: “One thing I know for sure, my helmet saved my life. Thank you @girocycling , ” she wrote on social media.
“Wear a helmet, please.”
Bäckstedt had been due to begin her cyclocross season this month but has been forced to postpone those plans. She is a two time world under 23 champion in that discipline and places high value on this area of the sport.
She is likely to have to wait several weeks while her right hand and wrist recovers, although a timeline hasn’t been indicated for her return.
“A perfect month of training and ‘holidays’ but a crash for me in training yesterday resulted in 2 small fractures in my hand and wrist…” she wrote.
“It’s a shame to have this outcome and to miss the first races of the season but give me time and I’ll come back stronger ❤️”
Bäckstedt is one of the most talented young riders in the sport and is a big future prospect for her Canyon-SRAM Zondacrypto team.
She is the daughter of former professionals Magnus Bäckstedt and Megan Hughes, and the sister of UAE Team ADQ rider Elynor Bäckstedt.
2025 brought several big results, including that second world under 23 cross title, as well as three stages plus the overall classification in the Baloise Ladies Tour. She won the time trials at the Simac Tour and the under 23 TT title at the worlds.