4 national titles for SD Worx-Protime

4 national titles for SD Worx-Protime

23/06/2024

At the national championships, Team SD Worx-Protime riders collected four road titles. Blanka Vas (Hungary), Marie Schreiber (Luxembourg), Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) and Chantal van den Broek-Blaak became national champions.

Belgian champion Lotte Kopecky: "Not obvious to take Belgian title"

Lotte Kopecky won the Belgian tricolour after a 32-kilometre solo. "It was quite a tough course, so I had to go deep at times. We started with quite a big peloton, which I wanted to make smaller quickly. It was nice that after the first hill we were in the front with a smaller group. That made it easier to control. I felt like I was in control all day too. It's nice to win the Belgian tricolour in such a way. Suppose I lose that beautiful rainbow jersey in September, I still have the Belgian one in my pocket. I felt supported by the fans, it's nice to feel that so many people are behind me. Now the focus goes to the Giro. There my goal is to take a stage win and get conditionally stronger for the next main goal: the Olympics."

Credit: (c) Getty Images

Dutch champion Chantal van den Broek-Blaak: "Most beautiful win of my career"

Chantal van den Broek-Blaak took her third Dutch title and her first win since she became a mother of daughter Noa on 24 May 2023. "The past months were tough, but also the most beautiful months of my life of course. It was hard to come back. Yet I kept believing in it. I knew it was still in it physically, but it was tough. In the year I was absent, the peloton has changed a lot. The level is higher. There is more pushing and pulling. When I woke up this morning, I was confident. I was awake automatically at 6 o'clock. I said to Lars Boom: The last time that happened, I won Strade Bianche. To which he said: Well then, try it today too. My last win dates from October 2021, a lot has happened since then. This is the best win of my career. To take my first win as a mother in this way is very special. Then when that little one is waiting for you at the finish line, there are no words for it. I'm going to enjoy the jersey."

Credit: Bart Hazen

Luxembourg champion: Marie Schreiber: "Dream come true"

In Luxembourg, Marie Scheiber took over the jersey from her teammate Christine Majerus, who wore it for no less than 14 years. "This is a dream come true. I don't really realise it yet. That will only come once I put on the jersey in the Thüringen Tour. This means a lot to me. Because I also have the cyclocross title, I will be allowed to ride in this jersey for almost the whole year. The race scenario developed perfectly in my favour. Our goal was to keep the jersey in the team. After a lap and a half, Christine launched an attack and got me and Nina Berton as her companions. I expected Nina or Christine to still attack, but they didn't. I relied on my sprint. Christine was always my idol when I was younger. So to follow in her footsteps as national road champion of Luxembourg is very special."

Hungarian champion: Blanka Vas: "Remains special to become national champion."

Blanka Vas successfully defended her Hungarian title. "This makes me very happy. Everyone recognises me in the race because of my distinctive jersey. It is also easier for my family to spot me. So it was important to win again. It was a good race, with the same course as always. But I like the course. First we do five big loops of 15 kilometres, followed by two more small tough rounds with only three-minute hills. With 60 kilometres to go, I attacked. I was joined by one companion, with whom I got along just fine. In the small laps I accelerated, then I finished the last ten kilometres alone. I am very happy with this win and am already looking forward to the Giro, which is a special race for me. It will be a matter of not crashing or getting sick and then I will go for the mountain bike-road race combination at the Olympics."

Credit: Vanik Zoltan

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