With a 3.9-kilometre prologue time trial won by Zoe Bäckstedt, the 2026 Baloise Ladies Tour kicked off yesterday evening from IJzendijke. The 21-year-old Canyon Sram rider, British time trial champion, completed the test in 4 minutes and 40 seconds, pedalling at over 50 km/h. The winner distanced her British teammate Millie Couzens, riding for Fenix-Premier Tech, by 5 seconds, and Belgian 20-year-old Fleur Moors of Lidl-Trek by 6 seconds.

The first short stage of the Belgian race, swept by gusts of wind, also saw Charlotte Kool in the top 10, who will be one of the favourites today in the sprinters' stage that will start from Oostende and finish in Knokke-Heist.

FINAL RESULTS

1 Bäckstedt Zoe CANYON//SRAM 4.40,062

2 Couzens Millie Fenix-Premier Tech 0.05,656

3 Moors Fleur Lidl - Trek 0.06,078

4 Wilson-Haffenden Felicity Lidl - Trek 0.06,633

5 Kool Charlotte Fenix-Premier Tech 0.07,555

6 Markus Femke Lotto Intermarché Ladies 0.08,359

7 Tas Sandrine Team SD Worx - Protime 0.10,203

8 Henderson Anna Lidl - Trek 0.10,547

9 Kopecky Lotte Team SD Worx - Protime 0.10,797

10 Baker Georgia Liv AlUla Jayco 0.10,844