Baloise Ladies Tour: Zoe Bäckstedt takes stunning solo victory on stage 3 metres ahead of chasing pack

Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon-SRAM Zondacrypto) took a spectacular solo victory in Maldegem on stage 3 of the Baloise Ladies Tour, holding off a charging peloton by only metres from a two-rider attack in the closing kilometres.

Bäckstedt followed a move from Margaux Vigié (Team Visma–Lease a Bike) with only 2.3km to go to the finish of today's two-stage day (with this morning's stage designated 3a on the UCI calendar). She dropped the Team Visma–Lease a Bike rider and was joined by Marie Schreiber (Team SD Worx–Protime) for a final 2km two-up time trial in the shadow of a charging peloton.

The momentum briefly sapped out of the chase with just over 1km remaining, which gave Schreiber and Bäckstedt a brief window to extend their gap before charging onto a shallow ascent to the final sprint.

Bäckstedt took the stage by a handful of metres, while Schreiber narrowly held off the charging sprint trains to take second from teammate Barbara Guarischi (Team SD Worx–Protime).

"It was a different day compared to the last road stages," Bäckstedt said following the race finish. "Super short, which I think suits me quite well.

"In that last lap, there were a lot of attacks, and with only two of us in the front group, I had to follow everything. I saw a rider from Team Visma–Lease a Bike go up the road with about 2.5 kilometres to go, and I thought, 'This is the only chance,'" she said.

"A small thank you to Marie for helping me keep the gap out a little bit. I'm really happy," she added.

Asked if she thought she could make it a third victory at the race with an ITT victory this evening, Bäckstedt said. "I would like to try. I'd like to do my very best. The way my legs are feeling, I think it's possible. But we have to see what the rest of the day brings first.

"It's going to be hard," she added, "especially with this heat. I think it's going to make a lot of people really tired by the end of the day, and especially then for tomorrow as well. But it's part of a stage race, so we have to do it."

The day was predictably animated given its short 93km profile, with multiple attacks from the start and a resilient breakaway containing Marion Norbert Riberolle (VolkerWessels Cycling Team), Sterre Vervloet (Lotto Ladies), Marieke Meert (VolkerWessels Cycling Team) and Clara Lundmark (Team Hess Cycling Team).

They were pulled in with 14km remaining, and Femke Markus (Team SD Worx–Protime) made several audacious attacks following the catch, but only Bäckstedt's final effort managed to make an attack stick.

The race will continue this evening with a 10.4km individual time trial.

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