Zoe Baxtedt, barely 17 and multi-talented: ‘I want to live up to my name’ | cyclocross

Magnus Bäckstedt never retired from cycling, although his role has evolved somewhat. The 46-year-old Swede regularly dives into commentary and is also the supervisor of daughters Elinor (20) and Zoe (17).

The eldest daughter of the cycling family is a Trek-Segafredo professional, the youngest of the family combining successes when he was young. She also does it on two wheels in just about every discipline.

Zoe – who holds British citizenship thanks to her British mother – became the world road champion in Leuven among the juniors in September, recently winning the European Cyclocross Championship in the Netherlands and also excels on the slopes.

So cycling is part of the genes and this winter Father Magnus and daughter Zoe – without a wife/mother due to Brexit – are camping in Flanders for cyclocross season. You can take that literally, because the duo spends the winter in a carriage in a gale right next to the company of major sponsor, Tormans.

With the cyclocross team, Bäckstedt discovers the tricks of the trade. She was sent there by brothers Bart and Geert Wellins and took part in the Elite in Boom Saturday. The ninth became a very difficult cross.

(Read under the Sportweekend report)

“I had to ride with the pros, because there was no cross for the little ones here at Boom,” the 17-year-old Briton laughed to our reporter from Sportweekend.

“I can also learn a lot by following the lines of the other riders, by seeing how they approach the survey.”

Baxted tells it all with a smile. This is how her cycling career begins: fun is the key word.

“People say I can do anything because I have a great family name, but it’s just me and I do my best. Even though I want to live up to my name.”

Britain’s top talent is a versatile talent, though she prefers the field of collecting and the road – certainly in the future. “Driving in the mud at two degrees in the winter: I love it.”

Marianne Voss is the idol of the pearl of cycling, who is gradually preparing to turn into a professional.

“My broker says a lot of teams are interested and we need to consult. It’s great that everyone wants to sign me.”

(Read under the quote and the final video of the World Junior Championships in Leuven)

Magnus Baxtedt, who was born during his active career as a giant in front of the ruby ​​stones, is proud that his daughter adopts her name. “Whether she’s still a daughter or am I already a father? I hope to be the last.”

“She has to develop herself. It’s going well at the moment. I’m not putting any pressure on her. We just say: Do your best. What’s the result: So be it.”

It’s like a family fairy tale. “We’ve never put pressure. And here we are. My daughters had to do it because they wanted to. And they had to do it basically out of love and passion. Then you’d go away.”

“Oh Zoe The next big thing He is? That’s early, she’s only 17 years old. She is undoubtedly talented, but there is still a long way to go. She does everything right, she handles it well and keeps pushing herself.”

Papa Bäckstedt does not want to reveal many details about future plans. “Zo has to figure it out for herself.”

“I can be a soundboard, but she has to choose. If you find the right combination of team and disciplines and keep having fun, it will run smoothly.”