Lotte Kopecky completes team game perfectly and triumphs in Piazza del Campo

Lotte Kopecky completes team game perfectly and triumphs in Piazza del Campo

"Maybe once in a lifetime to win Strade Bianche as world champion"

02/03/2024

Lotte Kopecky heeft voor de tweede keer in haar carrière de Strade Bianche op haar naam geschreven. De wereldkampioene rekende op de Via Santa Catarina af met medevluchtster Elisa Longo-Borghini en zette zo de kroon op het werk door als wereldkampioene te triomferen op het Piazza del Campo. “Heel bijzonder om hier in de regenboogtrui te winnen. Ik had niet mijn allerbeste dag, maar ik panikeerde niet. Toen Demi Vollering en ik voorop zaten, konden we het ploegenspel spelen. Op deze manier de Strade Bianche winnen is heel speciaal”, aldus Kopecky.

Linked race Strade Bianche - Linked cyclists Lotte Kopecky - Gekoppelde ploegleiders: Lars Boom Danny Stam

After the final gravel stretch, five riders separated from the peloton: Demi Vollering, Lotte Kopecky, the duo of Elisa Longo-Borghini and Shirin van Anrooij and Kasia Niewiadoma. An acceleration by Demi Vollering threw Van Anrooij overboard. Niewiadoma responded, after which Lotte Kopecky strongly attacked. Only Elisa Longo-Borghini was able to follow. On the final climb in the streets of Siena, the Via Santa Catarina, the world champion accelerated after which she arrived solo.

Kopecky: "We had more control than last week in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The whole team did a fantastic job. On Le Tolfe, Demi Vollering and I were in the front, which allowed us to play the team game perfectly. Demi went on, but was caught back. I was actually almost at the limit, but I had to attack. It was my turn to go."

To add honestly, "I actually didn't have the best day. I suffered the whole race. When I left this morning, I immediately felt I didn't have the best legs. But I often have that in a race and usually they don't really get worse as the race progresses. Again, my legs felt the same throughout the race. So I tried not to panic. On the Via Santa Catarina it was important not to attack too early. When I attacked, I went full speed until the last corner. Then I knew this win was in and that I could triumph in a very special way as world champion in the Piazza del Campo."

Sports manager Danny Stam was pleased with his team's performance. "This was a clever piece of team play. Where we were behind last week, this time we were present everywhere. Barbara Guarischi, Elena Cecchini, Mischa Bredewold and Niamh Fisher-Black showed excellent helpers. We found ourselves in the perfect situation with Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering ahead. This allowed them to attack in turn. When Lotte Kopecky was alone in front with Elisa Longo-Borghini, we were able to keep pressure from behind with Demi, forcing Longo-Borghini to pass. The ideal scenario. The way Lotte won and how much surplus she had left was impressive."

Sports manager Danny Stam was pleased with his team's performance. "This was a clever piece of team play. Where we were behind last week, this time we were present everywhere. Barbara Guarischi, Elena Cecchini, Mischa Bredewold and Niamh Fisher-Black showed excellent helpers. We found ourselves in the perfect situation with Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering ahead. This allowed them to attack in turn. When Lotte Kopecky was alone in front with Elisa Longo-Borghini, we were able to keep pressure from behind with Demi, forcing Longo-Borghini to pass. The ideal scenario. The way Lotte won and how much surplus she had left was impressive."

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