Britain’s Zoe Backstedt claimed a maiden professional win as she finished first on stage one of the Simac Ladies Tour, a 10.1km time trial in Gennep, the Netherlands.
The 20-year-old Team Canyon rider held off the challenge of Team Visma’s Lieke Nooijen, winning by seven seconds in a time of 12 minutes and 40 seconds, with Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) third.
“I had a lot of fun on the bike, and it was also enough for the stage win. I’m pleased. I have no idea what the secret recipe was today,” the Welsh rider told Eurosport.
“Well, maybe my dad [former Paris–Roubaix winner Magnus]… he was in the back of the [support] car. While I pushed to my limits, he encouraged me.”
The six stage Simac Ladies Tour, which runs over 708.1km, continues until 13 October and ends in Arnhem.