Kopecky had surplus in Nokere: "They said from the car that I had to make my own choice about what I would do"

Lotte Kopecky rides with incredible strength, and in a race like Nokere Koerse, there's little competition. The world champion launched several attacks, and the third attempt proved to be decisive. In her post-race interview, she discussed the eventful day.

"It was a win similar to last year," Kopecky began, referencing her victory in Nokere the previous year, also riding solo ahead of her teammate Lorena Wiebes. "I enjoy the course, and we like to take advantage of our strength. It's fantastic to control the race again with SD Worx and finish first and second. It couldn't be better."

Kopecky's solo breakaway over seventy kilometers from the finish showcased her exceptional abilities. "We aimed to make the race challenging, hoping that a few riders would join me. However, that didn't happen, so the team instructed me from the car to make my own decision. I tried to maintain a high pace for a while, but it was a bit too early. As they say, 'he who dares, wins."

Attack by Kopecky and Wiebes was discussed

Nevertheless, the final decisive move once again came from Kopecky. The Belgian launched a powerful attack on the cobbles, breaking away from the rest of the pack. "We had planned to accelerate there, and in the end, we ended up with four riders. When I attacked again on the cobbled section, the wind was favorable, creating ideal conditions for a solo effort. That's where I managed to gain an advantage."

She recounted the race with a torn shirt and blood on her knee, the aftermath of an early fall, which fortunately didn't affect her performance too much. "They crashed in front of me, and I couldn't avoid it. Thankfully, it's not too serious for now, but it might be sore tonight."