Magnus force for Island cyclists

Tuesday 27th October 2009, 3:00PM GMT.

Magnus Bäckstedt will be presenting Vélo Sport Jersey’s awards this Saturday

ONE of the biggest characters in professional road cycling will be coaching Island youngsters this Friday.

Several times Swedish champion, the now-retired Magnus Bäckstedt is best known for winning the famous Paris to Roubaix race in 2004, as well as being a stage winner of the Tour De France in 1998.

One of the tallest cyclists, at 6 ft 4 in, to make it at the top level, he will be presenting the Vélo Sport Jersey annual awards dinner at the Hotel Ambassadeur on Saturday evening. And on Friday evening he will be holding a youth development session for youngsters of all Island clubs at Les Quennevais cycling track, from 2 pm.

Now 34, Bäckstedt retired in 2008 after a succession of crashes riding for the Garmin Slipstream team, the same outfit that Bradley Wiggins rode for in the Tour this year. Business links have helped bring about this weekend’s visit.

Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post.

Click here for subscription details.

Individual editions are also available online.