Britain’s Zoe Backstedt claimed a dominant victory within the under-23 time trial on the Highway World Championships in Rwanda.

Backstedt, 20, took the winner’s rainbow jersey and gold medal, ending one minute 51 seconds forward of Viktoria Chladonova of Slovakia, with Italy’s Federica Venturelli third on a hilly 22.6km course across the capital Kigali.

The favorite for victory set a blistering tempo within the remaining part of a course which consisted of two large climbs – the second being a punishing cobbled ascent which appeared to utterly drain many opponents’ power.

“It is brutal climbing right here, however I actually prefer it,” mentioned Backstedt afterwards. “The climb on the finish – your legs are drained and also you lookup and also you suppose ‘this one’s going to harm’. It took a lot power out of your arms, legs and physique on all of these bumps.”

Backstedt, who’s from Wales, crossed the road and instantly had icy water poured over the again of her neck as she gasped for breath in scorching and humid situations, with temperatures about 26C.

That is the primary time the Highway Worlds, which started in 1921, have been held in Africa.

Backstedt, who rides for the Canyon-Sram Zondacrypto crew, is the daughter of Swede and 2004 Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus, and sister of Elynor who competes for UAE-ADQ.

The lads’s U23 time trial will happen on Monday afternoon.