Lotte Kopecky wins the opening stage of Burgos, 4th consecutive Worldtour victory for Team SD Worx

Lotte Kopecky wins the opening stage of Burgos, 4th consecutive Worldtour victory for Team SD Worx

"Perfect start to the second part of the season"

19/05/2022

Lotte Kopecky returned to competition in the Vuelta a Burgos after an altitude training and a week of rest. The Belgian champion went for a stage win and was immediately successful. In Aranda De Duero she gave everyone the slip and won supremely in the sprint. "This gives confidence for what's to come."

Linked race Vuelta a Burgos - Linked cyclists Lotte Kopecky - Gekoppelde ploegleiders: Anna van der Breggen Danny Stam

After Demi Vollering's triple win in Itzulia, Lotte Kopecky signed for her fourth consecutive World Tour win by winning the first stage of the Vuelta a Burgos. A nice ending to a day that did not start well. Team SD Worx had to forfeit Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio. Team manager Anna van der Breggen: "Ashleigh fell in Durango-Durango, just like Demi Vollering. Demi's evolution was positive, today she felt good again. But with Ashleigh it went the other way around. She had too much trouble cycling normally. So then it is wiser to listen to your body and not start. It was a difficult decision, because the Burgos course suits her, but there are still goals to come."

Then Team SD Worx started the flat stage to Aranda De Duero with five riders. The first stage seemed to be heading for a sprint. Spurred on by Trek-Segafredo, the peloton was put on a leash several times before breaking into pieces. Team SD Worx did not miss the right echelon and remained attentive at the front, without spilling too much. "We were going for Lotte today, so we waited for the sprint," sportive director Anna van der Breggen explains. "Still, it got exciting for a while because there was quite a strong wind, but we managed to hold on well at the front."

"The high temperature (40 degrees) made it extra tough, but the girls ate and drank well. They put Lotte off perfectly, after which she finished it off convincingly. It is super for her to come back into competition like this. If you win like that, you draw a lot of confidence from it." 

For Lotte Kopecky it is the third victory this season, after her wins in the Strade Bianche and in the Tour of Flanders. "This is indeed the perfect start to the second part of the season. There was quite a strong crosswind, so it was difficult to stay out of the wind and save power. But I managed quite well, with Demi Vollering in my wheel in case something happened. Such an uphill sprint suits me, I knew that this stage would be something for me. So I did not hesitate. With 200 metres to go I went and managed to hold on until the end. Will I defend the leader's jersey? Tomorrow there will probably be another sprint chance, so I would like to go for a second stage win in a row," she concluded.

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