When Orla Met… The Backstedts

Orla Chennaoui catches up with what must be one of the ultimate cycling families – the Backstedts. Mum Megan (née Hughes) represented Wales at the Commonwealth Games and Great Britain at the World Championships), Dad Magnus won Paris-Roubaix and a Tour de France stage during a long pro career, and their daughters Elynor and Zoe will both ride in the World Tour peloton in 2023.

Elynor, the elder sister, has packed a lot into her 21 years and will start her fourth season with Trek-Segafredo in 2023. Zoe, has won back-to-back junior road race world titles and added the time trial for good measure in Woollongong in 2022. After a spell as a stagiaire for EF Education-TIBCO-SVB at the end of the season, she will ride full-time for the team this coming season.

Orla talks to each of them in turn about – among other things – how they balance cycling and family life, what they talk about at the dinner table other than cycling, and who's most competitive when it comes to board games.

Series: Friends of the Podcast 2022
Run time: 1hr 02mins
Producer: Will Jones