Zoe Backstedt Powers to Sprint Victory on Stage Three of Tour de Suisse Femmes

Posted : 19 June 2026

Zoe Backstedt delivered a powerful sprint finish to win stage three of the Tour de Suisse Femmes on Friday, timing her effort perfectly to claim victory in Bad Ragaz.

The 21-year-old Briton benefited from excellent teamwork in the closing kilometres, with her Canyon-SRAM teammates delivering a well-executed lead-out that allowed her to surge ahead in the final 300 metres of a predominantly flat stage. The main breakaway of the day was eventually caught with around 19km remaining, setting up a bunch sprint to decide the winner.

Backstedt praised her team after the race, crediting their control and positioning throughout the stage. She admitted to some nerves when the early breakaway went clear without any riders from her team, but said the peloton managed the situation well and brought the escapees back in time for the sprint finish.

The victory marks the ninth professional win of Backstedt’s career. While she is not considered a general classification contender due to her climbing limitations, she remains a dangerous rider in flat stages and sprint finishes. She currently sits more than 16 minutes behind overall leader Elisa Longo Borghini in the general classification standings.

Another British rider, Lauren Dickson, continues to perform strongly in the overall standings, holding second place just 25 seconds behind Longo Borghini. Despite being involved in a late incident near the barriers inside the final kilometres, Dickson was awarded the same finishing time under race regulations.

Attention now turns to Saturday’s stage four, a 24-kilometre individual time trial that is expected to play a key role in shaping the general classification. Backstedt, who has already secured multiple time trial victories early in her career, is expected to be among the main contenders for the stage win.

She expressed confidence ahead of the race against the clock, noting that the challenging conditions, particularly the heat, will be a major factor for all competitors. However, she believes the course suits her strengths and is optimistic about her chances of securing a second consecutive stage victory.

The Tour de Suisse Femmes will conclude on Sunday with a demanding mountain stage finishing in Villars-sur-Ollon, which is expected to decide the overall winner of the race.

Zoe Backstedt Powers to Sprint Victory on Stage Three of Tour de Suisse Femmes

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