Zoe Backstedt powered to victory in the opening individual time trial of the Vuelta a Extremadura in Spain.

The Welsh cyclist beat nearest rival Brodie Chapman by 12 seconds to secure her first win of the 2026 season.

She pedalled across the rain-soaked 18km course to finish in a time of 24 minutes and 30 seconds to take the yellow leader’s jersey and the white jersey, awarded to the best-placed rider age under 26.

The race is held over three stages in western Spain with a 132km stage from Pueblonuevo del Guadiana to Fuente del Maestre before Sunday’s third and final mountain stage.