Zoe Bäckstedt with her first World Cup podium in Dendermonde: "I am happy that I was able to hold on to third place"
Cyclocross
Zoe Bäckstedt crossed the line in third place at the World Cup Cross in Dendermonde on Sunday afternoon. The 19-year-old British fought a nice duel with the Belgian Marion Norbert-Riberolle, who gave her a good run for her money.
"I am very happy with third place," Bäckstedt said in an interview afterwards. "I didn't feel 100 percent, though, because I had a bit of a cold."
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The young British rider saw the Belgian approaching throughout the entire cross, and at one point the difference was even reduced to five seconds. "It was really very close. During the last corners I saw them constantly behind me, but I am happy that I was able to hold on to third place."
For the British it is her second podium of the season after the Nacht van Woerden. Bäckstedt became European champion among the promises last week. "I just want to see how things go, grab some podiums every now and then and also end the season well with the promises."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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Rafionain-Glas04-11-2026 - maybe this is something else they can protest in the streets of France.mij04-11-2026
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