Former Cyclocross Junior World Champion Zoe Bäckstedt has been absolutely crushing her first season in the Elite ranks. Bäckstedt heads into this weekend’s World Championships as a favorite for the U23 title - which would be her 6th rainbow jersey in multiple disciplines.

There’s no shortage of exciting races on the calendar – and maybe we’re partial to Strade Bianche because the event just concluded – but here are the reasons why cycling’s “sixth monument” is number one in our book.