Zoe Backstedt Retains British Time Trial Title
Zoe Backstedt successfully defended her British national elite women's time trial title, leading an all-Welsh podium at the 2026 championships held in Lampeter.
The 21-year-old cyclist, who recently secured a stage victory at the Tour de Suisse Femmes, completed the 15.9 mile (25.6 km) Ceredigion course in a time of 32 minutes and 45 seconds.
"It was a super fun ride, really fast, difficult in places, and it was nice to go down classic Welsh country roads," Backstedt said.
"I'm really proud of how I've done, it wasn't easy, but I'm really happy to be able to come away with the National Champion jersey once again."
World track cycling champion Anna Morris, aged 31, finished as runner-up, trailing Backstedt by 22 seconds. Backstedt's sister, Elynor, 24, secured third place, finishing 1 minute and 5 seconds behind the winner.
Under-23 Men's Time Trial Results
Earlier in the day, Ben Wiggins claimed the Under-23 men's time trial title. Henry Hobbs finished second, and Finlay Tarling, another Welsh competitor racing on home terrain, took third place.
Wiggins recorded a winning time of 29 minutes and 2 seconds. Hobbs was 1 minute and 19 seconds slower, with Tarling finishing three seconds behind Hobbs.
The elite men's time trial and the Under-23 women's time trial events are scheduled for later on Thursday.
Upcoming Road Race Championships
The weekend of racing continues with the circuit championships in Aberystwyth on Friday evening, culminating on Sunday with the road race championships, also hosted in Aberystwyth.
Millie Couzens enters the competition as the defending elite women's road champion. She is expected to face strong competition from three-time winner Pfeiffer Georgi and Anna Henderson, who secured podium finishes in 2025. Sam Watson aims to retain his elite men's title from last year.
The road races will commence on the seafront, proceeding out of town towards Llanfarian and extending as far as Trawsgoed on a 23.4 km anticlockwise loop. The route will pass Y Gors on the return to Aberystwyth.
The peloton will complete three laps for the women's race and five laps for the men's race on this loop, followed by a 12.4 km finishing circuit. The women will complete four laps of this finishing circuit, while the men will complete five laps.
Racing will begin with the elite and Under-23 women at 08:45 BST, followed by the elite and Under-23 men at 13:45 BST.
