British based Magnus Backstedt will give the fans from his adopted home a chance to see him in action when the big Swede takes on the BEC CC hill climb on the Sunday 22nd October.

Backstedt who won the 2004 Paris Roubaix has finished his road season with the Vuelta Espana, he then enjoyed three weeks of ‘rest’ which included riding Paris Tours.

When asked about this Backstedt smiles. “Yes it may sound slightly bizarre that a classic like Paris Tours would be in my rest period. I was called on to do it and I went to help the team. So after spending the week at InterBike in Las Vegas, I was back on the start line in Paris”

The Liquigas pro managed 150 kilometres before climbing off with a majority of the field.

He is now back into his track season preparation. This winter Backstedt is looking to build on his 4 minute 35 second first ever competition pursuit at the 2005 Manchester World Cup riding for Sweden.

“I’m on the track nearly early every day and am also back in the gym. I’m pleased with my early tests in the pursuit and hope to be going well by my first World Cup in Moscow in December. I’ll then ride at Los Angeles and maybe Manchester.”

When asked about the possibility of riding the World Track Championships in Majorca, Backstedt makes a valid point.

“It seems slightly strange to me that even though the track has been moved to the winter that the Worlds are in March. The Worlds are in the build up to the Classics. I think you would get a lot more road riders crossing over if the Worlds were in say February”

Hill climbs are a tradition in the United Kingdom with one of the most famous fans of this discipline was Backstedts former Credit Agricole team mate Chris Boardman. The BEC CC hill climb was first run in the 1950’s with its 700 yard 1 in 6 and 1 in 4 gradients making it a challenging lung bursting effort.

The climb is in White Lane near Westerham in Kent and will give fans an opportunity to see the big Pro Tour rider up close.

“Yes its an unusual one for me, but very similar to the track efforts that I’m doing at the moment. I love these sort of events there is a good quality field so it should be quite a challenge. I will have to get out in the Welsh Mountains and do some intervals. Hopefully the fans will come out and cheer everyone on and we can have a real big race atmosphere on a little climb in Kent” He concluded.