Magnus Bäckstedt is instilling a love of Welsh roads in his team as two stages of the Lloyds Tour of Britain pass through the nation of his long-term home. While he was born in Sweden, the Human Powered Health Sports Director is based in South Wales, with Welsh daughters Zoe and Elynor both also participating in the British leg of the UCI Women’s WorldTour.
There will be plenty of family competition throughout the Tour, however, with each representing different teams and hoping to challenge on home roads.
Special home roads for Bäckstedt
“Of course it is special,” said Magnus. “I love riding on these roads and try and push as much of that across to the riders, especially when we get beautiful days like we have been.
“This part of the world is stunning to race a bike in, and we just want to go out and there and enjoy it.”
Bäckstedt, 51, was a professional cyclist in his own right, winning Paris-Roubaix in 2004, and married Welsh rider Megan Hughes who he lives with in Rhonda Cynon Taf. In his new guise, he is responsible for the Human Powered Health team’s tactics as they look to become one of the leading outfits in the women’s tour, with Canadian national road race champion Maggie Coles-Lyster among those under his guidance.
Mixed results on the road
This year’s Lloyds Tour of Britain has seen mixed results for the team, with lost time on stage one all but ruling them out of general classification competition, but Coles-Lyster’s podium finish in Blackpool on stage two returning reason to celebrate.
“It is always challenging when you come to Britain and race,” explained Bäckstedt. “I don’t think there are roads anywhere in the world that are similar to what we have got here. That poses completely different challenges for the riders and for everyone.
“The first day we had a bad day but then we had a really good one with Maggie getting second on the second stage. Now we’re racing for individual stages to see what we can do to get the maximum out of every stage.”
Stages and sprint finish ahead
The Lloyds Tour of Britain has started in Mold on stage three before ending on a climb up the Great Orme, while Saturday’s stage four started in Llanidloes with the finish on the border in Hay-on-Wye.
Bäckstedt’s best chance of seeing Coles-Lyster on another stage podium will come on the final day in Royal Leamington Spa, however, with a sprint expected.
“Maggie is really motivated to do the best that she can on the stages that suit her and with that, you’ve got someone who pulls the whole team in that direction,” he added. “It’s not actually that hard to motivate the team.”
British Cycling is inspiring riders and fans across the country through the Lloyds Tour of Britain, bringing the sport to life and celebrating the joy of cycling through Britain's biggest free-to-spectate cycling event. Visit britishcycling.org.uk
