Bäckstedt triumphs at Baloise Tour

Canyon-SRAM rider wins three stages, including the overall, on her way to victory in Belgium

- Adam Becket

Zoe Bäckstedt dominated the Baloise Ladies Tour from start to finish to achieve her first ever professional GC victory, winning her first pro road stage on the way.

The 20-year-old won the opening night prologue, her first TT since winning the TT title at the British National Championships last month, by just one second from Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) and Charlotte Kool (Picnic PostNL). She was absent from the next two stages, as they were bunch sprints, but triumphed on stage 3a, the first of a two-stage day, holding off world-class sprinters Kool and Clara Copponi (Lidl-Trek).

Bäckstedt followed a move from Margaux Vigié (Visma-Lease a Bike) with only 2.3km to go to the finish, but was joined by Marie Schreiber (SD Worx-Protime) and held them off for victory.