Zoe Bäckstedt Great Britain) soaked up the pressure and overcame a last-lap slip to defend her under-23 women’s Cyclo-cross World Championships crown in Liévin.
Bäckstedt stayed ahead of Marie Schreiber (Luxembourg) who made a late charge and finished second, while Leonie Bentveld (Netherlands) took bronze.
The British rider came into the event as a firm favourite but crashed heavily on the opening lap on a slippery descent. However, after changing onto a bike with lower tyre pressure, she charged through the mud and pulled out a sizeable advantage.
After recovering from a heavy crash last weekend Marie Schreiber (Luxembourg) provided the challenge for the British star. However, a series of errors on one technical section cost the Team SD Worx–Protime rider who looked distanced in silver.
The race was not over, though, and a slip on the final lap by Bäckstedt allowed her opponent to come fighting back within 16 seconds. Bäckstedt was not to be denied, however, and powered through the final gap to take victory 39 seconds ahead of Schreiber.
Meanwhile, Bentveld finished in bronze after battling past quick starter and first-year U23 rider Célia Gery (France).
More to come…
Results