'My helmet saved my life' - Zoe Bäckstedt sidelined after training crash

Reigning U23 cyclocross world champion Zoe Bäckstedt has been forced to delay the start of her season after a crash in training left her with two small fractures in her hand and wrist.

The British rider shared the news on Instagram, describing October as a month of contrasts. “A perfect month of training and ‘holidays’ but a crash for me in training yesterday resulted in 2 small fractures in my hand and wrist,” she wrote. “It’s a shame to have this outcome and to miss the first races of the season, but give me time and I’ll come back stronger.”

Bäckstedt also used the post to deliver a clear safety message to her followers, sharing a photo of her damaged Red Bull helmet. “One thing I know for sure, my helmet saved my life,” she said, thanking her helmet sponsor. “Wear a helmet, please.”

The Welsh talent was set to arrive at the cyclocross season with momentum after a standout year on the road. In 2025, she claimed the U23 world time trial title, the British national time trial crown, and the overall victory at the Baloise Ladies Tour. She also impressed on the cobbles, finishing 15th in Paris–Roubaix Femmes.

The Canyon//SRAM rider, who last winter captured two U23 world titles in cyclocross, had been preparing to build on a breakthrough 2024/2025 cyclocross campaign that brought World Cup podiums in Maasmechelen, Zonhoven and Dublin. Instead, her focus now shifts from racing to recovery, with the goal of returning for the second half of the cyclocross season.