Zoe Bäckstedt delivered another impressive ride at the Baloise Ladies Tour, winning stage 3a with a perfectly timed late attack that held off the peloton by just a few metres. The Canyon SRAM rider broke free in the final two kilometres and, despite the best efforts of the sprint teams, was never caught. It’s her second win of the race after opening the week with victory in the prologue in Yerseke.
The 87.2km stage, starting and finishing in Maldegem, was raced aggressively from the flag, with numerous attacks as teams looked to unsettle the expected sprint. A long solo move by Belgian cyclocross champion Marion Norbert Riberolle animated the day, as she went clear inside the first 20km and stayed away for almost 70km. The VolkerWessels rider held off the bunch until the final 14km, with her effort forcing teams to burn through support riders early.
Once the race came back together, SD Worx-Protime and Visma | Lease a Bike immediately stepped up the pace. Femke Markus launched several attacks to try to open the race, with teammate Marie Schreiber also jumping clear in the final laps. The fast, technical circuit in Maldegem made it difficult for the bunch to fully regroup, and the rhythm was constantly broken by counter-attacks and acceleration through the narrow town sections.
With around 2.3km to go, Margaux Vigie of Visma | Lease a Bike launched a stinging attack. Bäckstedt was quick to respond, bridging across before countering immediately. Schreiber then jumped from behind and joined the Canyon SRAM rider, forming a new two-rider lead group heading into the final 2km.
Despite the flat profile, the last section of the course featured a slight uphill drag to the line and a long straight finish that favoured a fast-organising chase. But with the peloton briefly losing cohesion just after the flamme rouge, Bäckstedt and Schreiber gained a small but vital gap.
Both riders committed fully, knowing that any hesitation would see them swallowed up. Bäckstedt led through the final corners and opened her sprint early, with Schreiber on her wheel and the bunch storming up behind. The British rider had just enough in reserve to hold her effort to the line, crossing just metres ahead of the charging sprinters.
Schreiber was overtaken only after the line by teammate Barbara Guarischi, meaning SD Worx-Protime had to settle for second and third on the day. The peloton finished on their heels, with Charlotte Kool and Chiara Consonni also present but out of position after missing the move.
Speaking after the finish, Bäckstedt said the shorter stage played to her strengths.
“It was a different day compared to the last road stages. Super short, which I think suits me quite well.”
She explained that with only two Canyon SRAM riders left in the front group, she knew she had to race smart.
“In that last lap, there were a lot of attacks, and with only two of us in the front group, I had to follow everything. I saw a rider from Team Visma | Lease a Bike go up the road with about 2.5 kilometres to go, and I thought, ‘This is the only chance.'”
She also credited Schreiber for helping make the move stick.
“A small thank you to Marie for helping me keep the gap out a little bit. I’m really happy.”
There’s little rest for the riders, with a 10.4km individual time trial set to take place in Maldegem later in the day. Bäckstedt, already in the race lead, hinted that a third win could be on the cards.
“I would like to try. I’d like to do my very best. The way my legs are feeling, I think it’s possible. But we have to see what the rest of the day brings first.”
She also acknowledged the conditions could be a factor in the evening test.
“It’s going to be hard, especially with this heat. I think it’s going to make a lot of people really tired by the end of the day, and especially then for tomorrow as well. But it’s part of a stage race, so we have to do it.”
The Baloise Ladies Tour will continue later today with a time trial and concludes tomorrow with the final 127.3km stage in Zwevegem, where Bäckstedt will look to defend her overall lead.
2025 Baloise Ladies Tour Stage 3 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Getty
