World champion Lotte Kopecky claimed a narrow victory in the opening stage of the 2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women, edging Letizia Paternoster in a thrilling sprint finish in Llandudno. The 142.4km route, which included 2,276m of climbing, tested the peloton with early attacks and decisive moves. Heidi Franz claimed maximum points on the first Queen of the Mountains climb, while a mid-race break featuring Katia Ragusa and Franziska Koch was reeled in before Lucy Harris’ solo effort earned her the Combativity Award.
As the race intensified on the Ty’n y Llidiart climb, attacks from Pfeiffer Georgi and the Great Britain team set the stage for an elite group to form. Lizzie Deignan took the Queen of the Mountains title, with Georgi, Kopecky, and Paternoster driving the pace. In the intermediate sprint, Paternoster edged Kopecky for bonus seconds, but Kopecky had the last word in a dramatic photo finish, with Georgi third and Deignan fourth.
Kopecky’s victory secured her the leader’s and sprinter’s jerseys, while Georgi claimed the Best of British jersey and Deignan the Queen of the Mountains title. Eline Jansen finished fifth, taking the young rider’s jersey, as the race promises more tactical battles in the stages to come.
Tour of Britain Women 2024 Stage 1 Photos
