Zoe Bäckstedt obliterates field to take dominant U23 Cyclocross World Championship win

Zoe Bäckstedt has taken a dominant victory at the under-23 women's Cyclocross World Championship in Tabor. The teen sensation led from the start and obliterated all her rivals.

Pre-race, Zoe Bäckstedt had been the favourite to take the title, and the 19-year-old wasted little time showing just why. After just one lap, the Brit was already 23 seconds clear of her nearest challenger and after two laps, that lead was touching a minute.

Behind Backstedt, the battle for the minor steps on the podium was much more exciting, as the likes of Leonie Bentveld, Kristyna Zemanová and Marie Schrieber were all quite evenly matched. 

As Backstedt took the bell for her lap of honour, her lead was up to 1:12 and the Welshwoman was allowed to savour the feeling of her impending World Championship victory.

In the battle for the silver and bronze, Schrieber had been dropped with Zemanova, roared on by her home crowd attempted to power away from Bentveld and the end, it was Zemanova who snuck into second.