Welsh cycling prospect Zoe Backstedt notched up another hugely impressive display at the Troyes Cyclocross International in France.
The 16-year-old finished fifth in the elite women’s race – even though she is still in her first year in the junior women’s ranks.
Pontyclun-based Backstedt came home one min 19 secs down on France’s Lauriane Duraffourg, who is more than two years her senior.
Llongyfarchiadau to Zoe Backstedt as she takes home 5️⃣th place in the Elite Women category in the International Cyclocross out in Troyes – starting the year strongly 👏
5ed safle i @Backstedt_Zoe yn categori y merched elitaidd allan yn Troyes. Perfformiad anhygoel unwaith eto 👏 https://t.co/bYa8bc968g
— Welsh Cycling (@WelshCycling) January 2, 2021
Duraffourg clocked 41 mins 46 secs to lead home a quartet of local riders before Backstedt crossed the line.
Backstedt – who celebrated her 16th birthday last September by signing for top Belgian Cyclocross team Tormans Acrog – won the opening UCI World Cup junior women’s race in the Czech Republic in November with a stunning victory.
But her World Cup campaign has been disrupted since with the two junior women’s races scheduled for Belgium on December 20 and 27 cancelled due to COVID-19.