After
Magnus Backstedt won the Hell of the North in 2004, he kept the pedals he had used a memento. Now, 19 years later those same pedals will return to
Paris-Roubaix. This time being used by daughter Zoe Backstedt.
“I got them from him when I joined the team,” the 18-year-old revealed to EF Education-TIBCO-SVB's official website. “We had just moved to Belgium and he was very happy to give them to me. I had only seen the pedals once or twice before that. The thoughts of riding Paris-Roubaix with it immediately crossed my mind.”
With Backstedt now set to make her Paris-Roubaix debut, she has been granted her wish and will ride the course with a piece of cycling history as part of her bike. Having already done some reconnaissance of the course, the young Welsh star is feeling the excitement that always surrounds the iconic race.
“I loved it and I am really looking forward to the competition," said Backstedt of her practice rides around the Paris-Roubaix course. "Hopefully the pedals will give me luck," she concludes.