Lotte Kopecky takes historic Omloop Het Nieuwsblad win with solo attack
The SD Worx rider became the first Belgian woman to win the cobbled classic
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) opened her season with a momentous victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday.
The 27-year-old attacked solo with 12km to go to become the first Belgian woman to win the cobbled classic, which was first introduced to the calendar in 2006.
Speaking after the race, Kopecky said: “I’ve never done a solo myself, so it was really hard for me to know how it feels and to pace this kind of race, but I think I did well.”
The Belgian’s winning move started on the Muur van Geraardsbergen, where she exploded out of the peloton to catch the race leader Arlenis Sierra (Movistar). Kopecky then shook off the Cuban on the Bosberg, the final climb of the day, before riding solo to the line in Ninove.
“It was not really the intention to go on the Muur,” Kopecky explained, “but I started with my pace on the Muur and nobody could follow, so I could not hesitate anymore and just tried to go.
“It was pretty hard, but I had a really good feeling during the race. In the climbs, I really felt strong.”
The Belgian’s team-mate Lorena Wiebes won the sprint for second, securing an impressive one-two for SD Worx. Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ) finished in third.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Next on Kopecky's calendar is Strade Bianche, where she will defend her title on the gravel tracks of Tuscany, Italy.
How it happened
On their first WorldTour outing in Europe, the riders left one Flemish city for another, racing between Ghent and Ninove on a 132.2km course. It would be no easy passage through the fields, however, with eight challenging climbs, the majority cobbled, to conquer en route.
The peloton enjoyed a relaxed start to the afternoon, with the bunch remaining together for the first two thirds of the race.
With 40km remaining, a star-studded group containing many of the pre-race favourites broke off the front, but was soon caught amid the relentless series of ascents.
Not content to sit back and wait, Movistar’s Sierra tried her luck inside the final 30km, breaking away solo off the front and growing out a one-minute advantage. The Cuban rode alone onto the lower slopes of the Muur van Geraardsbergen, but her gap quickly began to tumble. Behind her, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) sprung out of the peloton to launch the chase, followed by the former British national champion Pfeiffer Georgi (Team DSM).
Cresting the Muur, Kopecky tagged Sierra as the duo caught their breath in the shadows of the climb’s chapel. The Belgian then readied herself, before dealing her killer, race-winning attack at the foot of the Bosberg with 12km remaining.
Solo at the front of the race, the SD Worx rider took a 40-second advantage onto the flat, which was then halved as she battled into a headwind. Movistar and UAE Team ADQ tried their best to close the gap, but neither team could catch Kopecky, who crossed the line to take her first win of the season.
After the race, it was revealed that last year's winner, Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar), had suffered a flat tyre on the approach to the Muur, ruling her out of the finale.
Results
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Ghent to Ninove (132.2km)
1. Lotte Kopecky (Bel) SD Worx, in 3-32-54
2. Lorena Wiebes (Ned) SD Worx
3. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) UAE Team ADQ
4. Emma Norsgaard (Den) Movistar
5. Pfeiffer Georgi (GBr) Team DSM
6. Anouska Koster (Ned) Uno-X
7. Quinty Ton (Ned) Liv Racing TeqFind
8. Christina Schweinberger (Aut) Fenix-Deceuninck
9. Soraya Paladin (Ita) Canyon-Sram
10. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, all at 11s
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is the host of The TT Podcast, which covers both the men's and women's pelotons and has featured a number of prominent British riders.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides.
He's also fluent in French and Spanish and holds a master's degree in International Journalism.
-
Five things to look out for ahead of the Tour of Flanders
Lidl-Trek's impressive form and Mathieu van der Poel's explosive start to the Classics season could make for quite the contest this weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
A bikepacking trip is the perfect way to see the last viewable solar eclipse in the U.S. for 20 years - here's how
Following a 115-mile-wide path, the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse will last just under four-and-a-half minutes and can be viewed from multiple U.S. midwest and east coast bike routes
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
Demi Vollering: Revamped Strade Bianche course could play into SD Worx's hands
Defending champion predicts ‘spicy’ race on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Police to interview spectator who threw liquid at Marianne Vos at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Dutchwoman said incident, ahead of her victory last weekend, was "a shame"
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Five things we learned from Opening Weekend: SD Worx are beatable, while Quick-Step still a way from Classics form
A recap on what we know now that Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne are out of the way
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock says he’s ‘strong and fit’ and ready to go ahead of Opening Weekend
Pidcock set to lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘Please return my kit’ - Victor Campenaerts appeals for help at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
‘I don't want to lose all the team's winter clothing so early in the season’ says Belgian Lotto Dstny rider
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
SD Worx-Protime to make a return to the Ford RideLondon Classique in 2024
‘The bar it takes to win has just gone up’ says RideLondon race director after return of Dutch super-team confirmed
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'First I focus on the Classics': Lotte Kopecky unsure of Tour de France Femmes participation in Olympic year
Belgian aiming to peak in April with Paris-Roubaix a potential target
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Lotte Kopecky wins two European track titles in 19 minutes
Belgian stars on day four, as Great Britain also add two golds to their tally
By Tom Davidson Published