Great Britain's Zoe Backstedt celebrated her 18th birthday in style by successfully defending her women's junior road race world title to claim her second gold medal in Wollongong.
The teenager - who turned 18 on Saturday - had already finished atop the podium in the women's junior time trial at the 2022 UCI Road World Championships and followed that up with a storming run in the 67.2km circuit.
Backstedt crossed the line with 1:47:05 on the clock to make it back-to-back world titles in the women's junior road race and was visibly emotional as she crossed the line to retain possession of the rainbow stripes.
Historic ride 🗓
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) September 24, 2022
Birthday ride 🎉
Winning ride 🌈
Simply incredible @Backstedt_Zoe 🇬🇧#Wollongong2022 pic.twitter.com/1cxxS6dfzx
"I came over the climb the first time and I felt really good, I was climbing at the front. For a climb like that and for the rider I am that was not predicted," Backstedt told UCI's media channels after winning gold.
"I was in tears from a kilometre to go. There were so many people out on the course shouting my name and shouting happy birthday. Especially on the climb, that's where I needed it the most."
A sprint finish for the silver medal saw Eqlantine Rayer of France ultimately finish as runner-up - two minutes and seven seconds behind Backstedt - as the Netherlands' Nienke Vinke settled for bronze.
Ben Knapton
