Bred for success - why Backstedt can hit cycling's peaks

The beaming smile fits the remarkable achievement. The words offer up the tinge of regret from a potential cycling great in the making.

"I have to say I'm happy but at the same time of course I also came here for a gold medal," said Zoe Backstedt, shortly after collecting time trial silver at cycling's Road World Championships in Montreal.

They also demonstrate both a youthful exuberance and a maturity not all can muster, even well beyond Backstedt's 21 years.

"To be still 21, my first elite and still eligible for the under-23s, to be second is really incredible and I've had a smile on my face since the second I crossed the line, it's been a really cool day," she added.

But then the Welsh talent - who will celebrate her 22nd birthday later this week - has already been winning for years, raised from a successful cycling family and, many have long agreed, destined for the very top of the sport.

And now, in September - having declined the opportunity to defend her U23 title - she finished second to 35-year-old Swiss Marlen Reusser who retained her elite world time trial crown in Canada.

"I'm over the moon with my performance," Backstedt told the BBC after a few hours to reflect on her ride.

"It was really a crazy long time trial so to take home the silver medal, I'm super proud of that."

Backstedt is not finished yet either in Montreal. On Saturday, 26 September she will line up as one of the leaders for Great Britain in the road race.

"It's going to be a hard course, that's for sure," said Backstedt.

"But myself and Lauren Dixon will be the leaders and I think with the team that we've got coming, we will make it a really hard race."

A hard race, just the way she likes it.

Neither does she have any intention of making life easier by concentrating on one cycling discipline.

"I would like to continue across them all," she added.

"I think it's something I really enjoy.

"Time trialling, road, cyclocross, they're all three disciplines that I really love doing and I love racing so I can't really say if I would choose one or the other.

"I think putting all of them in there and doing a lot of work for all of them is what makes me stronger by the end of the season as well, so I will continue to race all of them."

And, almost certainly, Backstedt will continue to win more medals too.