The family name Backstedt carries a lot of weight in cycling circles.
Her father Magnus won Paris-Roubaix and a stage of the 1998 Tour de France, while her mother, Megan, won the British road race national title and competed for Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpa the same year.
Both Zoe and Elynor followed suit and began to forge their careers in the professional ranks.
Backstedt says she takes a lot of inspiration from her time at Maindy Flyers in Cardiff, a cycling club with some very famous alumni.
“Elinor Barker was just a few years older than my sister, so as I was looking towards cycling as a career, she was stepping into racing and I got to watch her grow and progress in the sport.
“It’s something cool to see, coming from the same club you are, riding circles around Maindy Velodrome and you’re like ‘Yeah, if she can do it, I can do it, maybe I can follow in those footsteps’.
“We’ve had a similar path into cycling and then you want to do that too.”
Olympic gold medallist and Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas also began his career at the famous track, first opened in 1951 before hosting the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
“He progressed from Maindy to the men’s world tour, so it’s a little bit different, but you’re still coming from the same place, doing the same sessions on a Tuesday night,” she added.
Backstedt hopes she too can provide inspiration for the next generation coming through the club.
“To see all the little ones that are coming up through the sport and see if you can inspire them.
“I think even out on the roads here in Spain, I’ve seen some people from Maindy out riding.
“You’re waving at them on the bike and you’re like, ‘Yeah, you could be in my team in a few years, or riding in one of the men’s teams’, and that’s just so cool to see.”
