Kopecky sole record holder of the Tour of Flanders
Lotte Kopecky is now the sole record holder for the most victories in the Women’s Tour of Flanders. The world champion rode a flawless race and beat Ferrand-Prévot and Lippert in the sprint. Tour winner Niewiadoma lost the sprint and just missed out on the podium.
Under a radiant blue sky, the women’s peloton started the 22nd edition of the classic at 1:10 p.m. Almost immediately, seven riders went on the attack: Nicole Steigenga (AG Insurance Soudal Team), Franziska Brausse (Ceratizit Pro Cycling Team), Romy Kasper (Human Powered Health), Alison Avoine (St Michel – PREFERENCE Home - Auber93), Britt de Grave (DD Group Pro Cycling Team), April Tacey (Team Coop-Repsol Women), and Aoife O’Brien (DAS-Hutchinson) formed the breakaway of the day. After the first hour, with an average speed of 41.5 km/h, the group built up a lead of about 7 minutes.
With 130 km to go, a crash involving Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) caused a moment of drama. The Italian champion and co-record holder struggled to resume racing and, after 10 km of suffering, the 2015 and 2024 winner decided to abandon.
Apart from a few accelerations, the lead gap remained unchanged. Kopecky (Team SD Worx – Protime) took the front on the cobbles of the Jagerij, followed by Jackson (EF Education – Oatly) on the Paddestraat. Pieterse (Fenix – Deceuninck) pushed the pace on the Eikenberg, as the favorites began to move forward toward the Koppenberg.
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Strong-riding Steigenga was first to the top. From behind, Kopecky surged forward with a strong acceleration, ending the early break. An elite group of around twenty riders headed into the final 45 km.
In the final, Chabbey (FDJ-Suez) misjudged a corner and crashed, taking down Ferrand-Prévot as well. Both were able to rejoin. Soon after, Lippert attacked on the Oude Kruisberg, forcing Kopecky and the other favorites to close the gap. The favorites group began to split, with riders like Vos and Brand dropped. Heading into the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg, Bredewold (Team SD Worx – Protime) set the pace for the world champion.
On the Oude Kwaremont, Kopecky unleashed a strong acceleration. Only Lippert, Ferrand-Prévot, and Niewiadoma could follow. Paternoster briefly held on, but eventually had to let go. The four leaders approached the Paterberg with a lead of around 25 seconds. They stayed together on the final climb and rode together toward the Minderbroedersstraat. Kopecky neutralized a late move by Niewiadoma and sprinted dominantly to victory. Ferrand-Prévot and Lippert join the world champion on the podium.
