Lotte Kopecky secured her second consecutive world title in Zurich after a thrilling conclusion to the elite women’s road race at the UCI Road World Championships. The Belgian rider timed her sprint to perfection after an exhausting 154-kilometre race held in cold, rainy conditions, beating Chloé Dygert and Elisa Longo Borghini to the line in a six-rider sprint.
The race began with an emotional minute’s silence in honour of Swiss junior rider Muriel Furrer, who tragically died following a crash earlier in the week. The sombre mood quickly gave way to intense racing as the peloton tackled a demanding course, which featured steep climbs and slippery descents around Zurich.
An early breakaway formed in the pouring rain, with Caroline Baur, Sara Martín, and Nina Berton establishing a small gap. However, they were soon caught as the Dutch squad, led by Demi Vollering, began to dictate the pace. Their aggressive tactics saw Riejanne Markus and Mischa Bredewold launch a dangerous attack alongside several other riders, but the group was reeled in after a concerted effort by the chasers.
As the race entered its final stages, the Dutch continued to pile on the pressure. Vollering herself drove a fierce pace on the penultimate lap, briefly reducing the front group to a select few. Lotte Kopecky found herself distanced, struggling on the longer climbs as Vollering and Elisa Longo Borghini made their moves. However, the Belgian refused to give up, pacing herself back to the leaders on the descent.
Photo Credit: GettyWith just a few kilometres remaining, Giro winner Elisa Longo Borghini launched a last-ditch solo attack, briefly gaining a gap. But Vollering chased her down, bringing the race back together in time for the final sprint. Ruby Roseman-Gannon started the sprint, but Vollering quickly took over, setting up Kopecky to come through the middle and power to victory. Dygert finished a close second, while Longo Borghini claimed third.
After the race, Kopecky reflected on the difficult conditions and her tactical approach. “It’s mostly a feeling of disbelief,” she said. “I first want to express my condolences to the family of Muriel Furrer. The minute’s silence at the start and seeing the emotions in the peloton were really heavy. This title is also for her.”
Speaking about the race itself, Kopecky admitted it had been a tough day. “It was a very irritating day. There was a lot of rain, and it wasn’t warm. On the descents, you got so cold. Three laps from the end, I was freezing. I tried to keep my head cool,” she explained.
Despite being dropped on the climbs, Kopecky stayed focused on her pacing. “On the steeper climbs, I had fewer problems, but on the longer climb, I struggled to follow Demi [Vollering]. I tried to keep my own tempo and come back. It was mainly a mental challenge. I had to use my energy at the right moments.”
Chloé Dygert, who fought her way back into contention after being distanced earlier, was pleased but also frustrated with her second-place finish. “Before the race, I didn’t expect this, but now coming away with silver, I’m a little mad that it wasn’t gold,” she said. “I almost didn’t want to start today after how my year has gone mentally. I feel very blessed to have the support that I do, otherwise, I wouldn’t have started.”
For Vollering, who had been one of the strongest riders throughout the day, there was disappointment with her fifth-place finish. “We fought all day, but the final wasn’t tough enough to really get away,” she told reporters. “I tried to go, but nothing stuck. Maybe I should have gone earlier, but it’s always easy to say that in hindsight.”
Elisa Longo Borghini, who took third, was also satisfied with her performance, especially after her late solo attack nearly won her the race. “I tried everything, but in the end, Lotte [Kopecky] was just too strong in the sprint,” she admitted.
2024 Women’s World Championships Road Race
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Main photo credit: UCI
