Elynor
Backstedt

Elynor Bäckstedt arrived in Trek-Segafredo after successful years in the Junior ranks in both track and road. With few dedicated U23 teams or races in women’s cycling and no buffer for Junior riders jumping into Elite racing, Elynor made the big step into the WorldTour with Trek-Segafredo in 2020 and certainly has the pedigree to handle it. Her father, Magnus Bäckstedt, is a former Tour de France stage winner and won the 2004 edition of Paris Roubaix and her mother, Megan Hughes, is a former British national road champion. In her first season, the pandemic-shortened 2020, Elynor had few race opportunities, but in 2021 she was able to complete a full season, gaining experience and confidence. A strong rouleur and time trialist, Elynor strutted her talents in the prologue of the Lotto Belgium Tour with a second-place finish behind teammate and World TT Champion Ellen van Dijk.

Date of birth

06/12/2001

From

United Kingdom

Team

Trek-Segafredo Women

Social media

Questions /
Answers

What was the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?

The biggest obstacle that I’ve had to ever come was after getting hit by a car. I had a concussion for a long time. I also struggled with confidence when riding on the road so it was hard both physically and mentally.

What’s your secret talent that no one knows about?

I can sleep anywhere!

Tell us about your greatest cycling achievement.

I would say my greatest cycling achievement would be getting on the podium at the Yorkshire World Championships time trial. It wasn’t the result that I had hoped for, however, the course was not suited to me at all, and I had so much pressure leading into it.