"Bring it on I am so ready for it!” - Zoe Bäckstedt can't wait to begin maiden road campaign after claiming victory at British National Cyclocross Championship

The waiting is almost over for EF Education-TIBCO-SVB's 18-year-old prodigy Zoe Bäckstedt. With her maiden road programme due to begin at the women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in late February, Bäckstedt can't wait to get going.

Fresh off the back of being crowned the British national cyclocross champion, Bäckstedt whose road debut has already been heavily anticipated, only further increased the excitement by beating all challengers in Milnthorpe on Sunday. Speaking to Cycling Weekly prior to her victory, the Welshwoman expressed her desire to get up and running.

“I honestly can’t wait to get racing, it’s going to be so good out there," she explains. "The Christmas period has been really good to me. It’s been really exciting being up in the top ten’s and top five’s of some of the World Cups that I’ve done, particularly in some of the races where I’ve been up against some of the best riders.”

The daughter of former Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Bäckstedt, Zoe has cycling pedigree in her blood. Ahead of the first season of her professional road career, the 18-year-old reveals when and where she expects to begin her campaign. “I’ll be doing Het Nieuwsblad and that’s about it for now. We’ll have to see how I am after this cyclocross season,” she said. “I don’t want to do too much too soon and end up tiring myself out. Bring it on I am so ready for it!”