Kopecky almost sees her plan shattered by incredibly strong Smulders: "Won this race in the final centimeter"

"I think I won this race in the very last centimeter," the overall winner laughed shortly after taking her place on the final stage. "The plan was to sprint and grab the bonus seconds, but it was extremely close. Silke was incredibly strong," Kopecky admitted, seeing her carefully crafted plan almost ruined by the efforts of the courageous Dutch rider. "The entire team had to give everything to close the gap."

On Saturday, Kopecky’s chances weren't looking too good. The Belgian was caught in a crash during the finale of the stage and sustained a nasty scrape on one of her shoulders. It was uncertain whether she could even start the final stage. In the end, however, everything was set for Sunday. "It was definitely safe to ride," Kopecky said. "I did a warm-up ride this morning, and it felt okay. There was no reason not to start today. This overall victory is a nice addition to an amazing season. It’s wonderful to end the road season on such a high note."

One of Kopecky’s teammates who gave everything in the finale was Luxembourg’s Christine Majerus. The Luxembourger, who also had a successful career in cyclocross, is hanging up her bike. "Christine is an incredible teammate and a fantastic person. We’re going to miss her, which is why I’m especially glad we could secure this victory," Kopecky concluded, with kind words for her teammate. Kopecky’s season is not over yet, as she will compete in the Track Cycling World Championships in Ballerup, Denmark, next week.