Backstedt Wins Women’s Road Race to Complete Historic Double

Zoe Bäckstedt claimed victory in the elite women’s road race at the 2026 British National Road Championships on June 28, completing a remarkable national title double.

After defending her time trial title earlier in the week, Bäckstedt delivered another outstanding performance in Aberystwyth. She launched a strong solo chase, caught long-time race leader Josie Knight with 14 km remaining, and rode clear to win in a time of 3:30:44.

Josie Knight finished second, 1 minute 42 seconds behind the winner, while Millie Couzens completed the podium in third. The victory made Bäckstedt the first British woman since 2019 to win both the national time trial and road race titles in the same season.

The result capped a memorable week for the Canyon//SRAM rider and highlighted her growing reputation as one of Britain’s brightest cycling talents. The impressive victory also marked one of the biggest achievements of the 21-year-old’s career so far.