'The win was not in our reach today' – Loss of Lorena Wiebes on Koppenberg costly for Lotte Kopecky in Tour of Flanders

Lotte Kopecky, the defending champion of the Tour of Flanders Women’s race, finished fourth in Sunday’s edition after being unable to respond to the decisive attack by Demi Vollering on the Oude Kwaremont. Kopecky, aiming for a record fourth victory, acknowledged that Vollering and her FDJ United-Suez team executed a near-perfect race, leaving her without the legs to contest the win. Despite her strong positioning during the race, Kopecky conceded that the victory was beyond reach on the day. A critical moment came earlier on the Koppenberg climb when Kopecky’s teammate Lorena Wiebes encountered difficulties, either mechanical or physical, which disrupted SD Worx-Protime’s strategy. Mischa Bredewold, Kopecky’s final helper, highlighted the impact of Wiebes’ setback, noting that losing such a key rider in the closing stages was a significant blow to their chances. Bredewold also reflected on her own tactical decisions, questioning whether conserving energy rather than attacking before the Kwaremont might have altered the outcome, potentially enabling a stronger chase for second place. The race underlined the importance of team depth and tactical execution, with FDJ United-Suez’s approach differing from SD Worx-Protime’s usual multiple-option strategy. Bredewold pointed out that while FDJ did not aggressively use their numbers through multiple attacks, they maintained a high pace that proved decisive. The absence of Wiebes deprived Kopecky’s team of a crucial resource, illustrating how finely balanced team dynamics can be in the Spring Classics. Looking ahead, Kopecky remained composed about the result and her upcoming goals, including Paris-Roubaix. She emphasised that her performance in the Tour of Flanders was strong and that her recent Milan-San Remo victory marked a significant achievement for the season. Kopecky expressed confidence in her form and readiness for future races, signalling that she does not intend to make drastic changes based on Sunday’s outcome.