Zoe Backstedt, 21, won silver in the women's time trial at the UCI World Road Championships in Montreal, pushing champion Marlen Reusser before the Swiss rider retained her title. Remco Evenepoel took a fourth successive men's title.
Key facts
- Zoe Backstedt, 21, of Great Britain won women's time-trial silver in Montreal.
- Switzerland's Marlen Reusser retained her world title.
- Germany's Franziska Koch finished third; Demi Vollering came eighth.
- Remco Evenepoel won a fourth consecutive men's world time-trial title.
Great Britain’s Zoe Backstedt won silver in the women’s time trial at the UCI World Road Championships in Montreal on Sunday, the BBC reported. The 21-year-old finished behind Switzerland’s Marlen Reusser, who retained her world title.
According to the Guardian, Reusser secured an ultimately comfortable victory, taking her second world championship after triumphing last year in Kigali. However, the Swiss rider was given a scare by Backstedt before crossing the line ahead of the young British challenger.
The women’s podium was completed by Germany’s Franziska Koch, who finished third. Demi Vollering, described by the Guardian as Reusser’s expected main challenger, endured a disappointing race and came home in eighth place.
In the men’s event, Remco Evenepoel etched his name into the history books with a dominant fourth successive world time-trial victory, the Guardian said. The 2024 Olympic champion entered the race as the overwhelming favourite and delivered on that billing.
Evenepoel’s dominance was clear early on. According to the Guardian, he was already more than 30 seconds ahead of the rest of the field by the second intermediate time check, just over halfway along the 39.2km (24.4 mile) route.
For Backstedt, the silver medal marks a significant result on the world stage for one of Britain’s emerging talents, having pushed the reigning champion in her own discipline.
Why it matters
Backstedt's silver signals the arrival of a young British rider capable of challenging the world's best in time trials. Reusser and Evenepoel's continued dominance underlines the current pecking order in elite cycling ahead of future championships and Olympic cycles.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the women's world time trial in 2026?
Switzerland's Marlen Reusser won the women's time trial in Montreal, retaining her world title. Zoe Backstedt of Great Britain took silver and Germany's Franziska Koch finished third.
How old is Zoe Backstedt?
According to the BBC, Zoe Backstedt is 21 years old.
How many world time-trial titles has Remco Evenepoel won?
Evenepoel won his fourth successive men's world time-trial title in Montreal, according to the Guardian.