Bäckstedt Dominates Inaugural U23 Women's Time Trial

Zoe Bäckstedt of Great Britain produced a dominant performance to win the inaugural under‑23 women’s time trial at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, covering the hilly 22.6km course (with two climbs including a cobbled ascent) in just under 31 minutes and averaging about 43.8 kph. Bäckstedt finished roughly 1:50 clear of Slovakia’s Viktória Chladoňová, with Italy’s Federica Venturelli taking bronze; she caught riders who’d had significant head starts and said she will skip the hill‑packed road race to focus on under‑23 cyclo‑cross events. The championships — the first Road Worlds held in Africa — also underscored the growing impact of marginal gains in time trials, with Remco Evenepoel claiming a third straight elite TT title aided by equipment tweaks while rivals tested new helmet designs. Junior women’s time trial winner Megan Arens of the Netherlands powered to a commanding victory over Spain’s Paula Ostiz. New eligibility rules barring professional under‑23 riders affected other races, leaving 19‑year‑old Jarno Widar as a clear favourite in the men’s under‑23 road race. The UCI also awarded the 2031 combined road‑and‑track “super‑worlds” to Trentino, Italy, with track events planned at a near‑complete velodrome in Spresiano.