Baloise Ladies Tour: Zoe Bäckstedt smashes prologue to claim first leader's jersey

Race Results
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Ellen van Dijk second, Charlotte Kool third in Yerseke

Zoe Bäckstedt wins the prologue at the Baloise Ladies Tour 2025
Zoe Bäckstedt wins the prologue at the Baloise Ladies Tour 2025 (Image credit: Getty Images)
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Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) was the fastest in the 3.1km prologue that opened the Baloise Ladies Tour on Wednesday in Yerseke.

The 20-year-old covered the distance with a winning time of 00:04.06, beating Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) and Charlotte Kool (Picnic PostNL) by one second to take the stage win and the event's first leader's jersey.

But closer to the end of the event, it was Margaux Vigié (Visma-Lease a Bike), who was the first rider to break through Markus' early benchmark with a new fastest time.

Her time in the hot seat was short-lived, however, as Bäckstedt raced through six seconds faster.

Then came Van Dijk and Kool, Marthe Goossens (AG Insurance-Soudal) and Marie Schreiber (SD Worx-Protime), all slotting in just behind Bäckstedt in the top five.

Bäckstedt will lead the Baloise Ladies Tour into stage 1's 127.2km from Jabbeke to Knokke-Heist on Thursday.

Results

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Prologue - top 10

Pos.

Rider (Team)

Time

1

Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto)

00:04:06

2

Ellen Van Dijk (Lidl-Trekl)

00:00:01

3

Charlotte Kool (Picnic-PostNL)

Row 2 - Cell 2

4

Marie Schreiber (SD Worx-Protime)

00:00:04

5

Marthe Goossens (AG Insurance-Soudal Team)

00:00:05

6

Margaux Vigié (Visma-Lease a Bike)

00:00:06

7

Femke Markus (SD Worx-Protime)

00:00:08

8

Barbara Guarischi (SD Worx-Protime)

Row 7 - Cell 2

9

Fien van Eynde (Fenix-Deceuninck)

00:00:09

10

Martina Fidanza (Visma-Lease a Bike)

Row 9 - Cell 2
Kirsten Frattini
Kirsten Frattini
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Kirsten Frattini has been the Editor of Cyclingnews since December 2025, overseeing editorial operations and output across the brand and delivering quality, engaging content.

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