Zoe Backstedt Wins the Prologue of the 2026 Baloise Ladies Tour

Zoe Backstedt (CANYON//SRAM) won the opening stage of the 2026 Baloise Ladies Tour, taking the 3.9-kilometer prologue time trial in IJzendijke. The British rider covered the course in 4 minutes and 40 seconds, at an average speed of 50.132 km/h, beating Millie Couzens (FENIX-PREMIER TECH) by five seconds and Fleur Moors (LIDL - TREK) by six.The entirely flat and fast prologue saw Couzens stop the clock at 4:45, a time that remained the benchmark for a long while. Shortly after, Moors finished one second behind her teammate. But it was Backstedt who made the difference, crossing the finish line with the best time and knocking her compatriot off the hot seat.Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (LIDL - TREK) finished fourth at 6 seconds, while Charlotte Kool (FENIX-PREMIER TECH) rounded out the top five at 7 seconds behind the winner.General Classification after Stage 1Zoe Backstedt (CANYON//SRAM) — 00:04:40Millie Couzens (FENIX-PREMIER TECH) — +0:05Fleur Moors (LIDL - TREK) — +0:06Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (LIDL - TREK) — +0:06Charlotte Kool (FENIX-PREMIER TECH) — +0:07Backstedt will wear the leader's jersey heading into the second stage, a 112.5-kilometer road race from Ostend to Knokke-Heist.