{"id":331004,"date":"2025-12-23T04:54:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T04:54:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/331004\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T04:54:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T04:54:10","slug":"its-been-a-long-six-weeks-zoe-backstedt-reveals-cyclo-cross-season-opener-after-breaking-wrist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/331004\/","title":{"rendered":"‘It’s been a long six weeks’ \u2013 Zoe B\u00e4ckstedt reveals cyclo-cross season opener after breaking wrist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zoe B\u00e4ckstedt<\/a> will make her cyclo-cross<\/a> season debut on 28 December, less than two months after she fractured her wrist in a training crash<\/a>, her Canyon<\/a>-SRAM zondacrypto team has announced.<\/p>\n

The 21-year-old, the reigning under-23 cyclo-cross world champion, said her helmet saved her life<\/a> when she came off her bike on 1 November. Following the crash, she trained indoors for over a month, and has now been medically cleared to return to racing.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

B\u00e4ckstedt was originally due to open her cyclo-cross season in mid-November, but will now do so at the UCI World Cup round in Dendermonde, Belgium, on 28 December. Her full calendar (published in full below) will count eight events, with her participation at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships on the final weekend of January still to be determined.<\/p>\n

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\u201cFor my first race back, my hopes and expectations are not super high \u2013 not in a bad way, but I don\u2019t want to put pressure on myself to achieve something that\u2019s not realistic,\u201d B\u00e4ckstedt said in a statement released by Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a long six weeks watching everyone else racing and I just want to be racing with them. So maybe my first few races back are not great, but just give me some time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last season, the Welshwoman competed in 16 cyclo-cross events, and finished inside the top 10 in every one. Her best results included second place in Zonhoven \u2013 her highest ever elite World Cup finish \u2013 and two victories at the UCI World Championships<\/a>, in the mixed relay and under-23 race.<\/p>\n

As she readies herself for her season opener in Dendermonde, the 21-year-old said she\u2019s in \u201cpretty okay shape, all things considered\u201d.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt feels so good to be back on the cross bike. I was a bit apprehensive about that first session, but in the end it was nothing to worry about,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor sure, the strength around my wrist isn\u2019t as good as it used to be, but that\u2019s all part of coming back from injury.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, B\u00e4ckstedt was named Cycling Weekly\u2019s female Rider of the Year for 2025<\/a>, thanks to her cyclo-cross and road performances; she also won five time trials this year, including the under-23 world title in Rwanda<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Asked about her love of cyclo-cross, B\u00e4ckstedt told Cycling Weekly: \u201cEveryone thinks we must be a crazy bunch of people to enjoy racing in 2\u00b0C in the rain, when all the road riders are in the sun or on holiday. But that\u2019s part of what I love about it, being in nature, among the trees.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the summer, I always say, \u2018Oh, I love the road, but I miss cyclo-cross.\u2019 And in the winter, I always say the opposite. As long as I\u2019m on a bike, I\u2019m happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

B\u00e4ckstedt\u2019s cyclo-cross calendar for 2025\/2026 is below.<\/p>\n

Zoe B\u00e4ckstedt’s 2025\/2026 cyclo-cross season<\/p>\n

28 December: Round 8, UCI World Cup Dendermonde (BEL)<\/p>\n

29 December: X\u00b2O Trofee Azencross – Loenhout (BEL)<\/p>\n

1 January: X\u00b2O Trofee Baal – GP Sven Nys (BEL)<\/p>\n

3 January: Superprestige Gullegem (BEL)<\/p>\n

4 January: Round 9, UCI World Cup Zonhoven (BEL)<\/p>\n

18 January: Round 10, UCI World Cup Benidorm (ESP)<\/p>\n

24 January: Round 11, UCI World Cup Maasmechelen (BEL)<\/p>\n

25 January: Round 12, UCI World Cup Hoogerheide (NED)<\/p>\n

TBD, 30 January: UCI World Championships Hulst (NED)<\/p>\n

TBD, 31 January: UCI World Championships Hulst (NED)<\/p>\n

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\nZoe B\u00e4ckstedt
\n<\/a>
\n
\nCanyon-SRAM
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