Magnus Backstedt: Rider Profile

• Thursday, 15 January 2009
• Andrew Canning
• 0 Comments

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MAGNUS BACKSTEDT

Date of birth: 30/01/1975
From: Sweden (lives in Wales)
Team: Cyclesport.se/Magnus Maximus Coffee.com.
Previous teams: Garmin-Slipstream (2008-2009) Liquigas (2005-2007); Alessio-Bianchi (2004); Team Fakta (2002-2003); Crédit Agricole (1998-2001); Collstrop-Palmans (1996-1997)

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Magnus Backstedt career profile

At 6ft 4in, ‘Big’ Magnus Backstedt is one of the tallest and most imposing riders in the peloton.

Starting his career as a skier for the Swedish national team, he soon converted to cycling. Turning professional for the Collstrop team in 1996, Backstedt soon made a name for himself on the continent, winning the GP d’Isbergues in only his second season.

The big Swede’s potential in the big Classics was evident from an early stage, finishing seventh at Paris-Roubaix in 1998 as well as a stage in the Tour de France.

Backstedt’s apotheosis came in 2004 when he finally won his favourite race, Paris-Roubaix, beating Tristan Hoffman and Roger Hammond to the line in the velodrome. By this stage, the Swede had earned the title of an honorary Brit, living in Belgium and speaking flawless English.

A move to Liquigas followed, but a mixture of bad luck and injuries prevented Backstedt from re-creating his Paris-Roubaix-winning form. He joined the Slipstream squad for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He announced his retirement from the top echelons of the sport in February 2009, wishing to spend more time with his family and develop his under-23 team, although continues to ride on his Swedish development squad.

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Magnus Backstedt results

2007
Swedish national road race champion

2004
Paris-Roubaix

2003
Giro d’Italia; intergiro
Swedish national time trial champion

1998
Tour de France; stage 19
Four Days of Dunkirk; sprint competition
Tour of Sweden; stage one

1997
GP d’Isbergues

1996
Boland Bank Tour; overall
Boland Bank Tour; stage
Boland Bank Tour; stage

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Magnus Backstedt photos

Click on the thumbnails of Magnus Backstedt below to open a larger image in a new window.

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RELATED LINKS
Cycling Weekly's Rider Profiles: Index
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