No third world title for Kopecky: Belgian succumbs to powerful Wollaston

Lotte Kopecky failed to become world champion in the elimination race for the third time. After an exciting race in Ballerup, Denmark, she lost to the powerful Ally Wollaston from New Zealand.

In the elimination race, every rider who is the last to cross the finish line after one lap is eliminated. Defending champion Lotte Kopecky, a two-time world champion and three-time European champion, is considered a specialist in this nerve-racking event.

The Belgian, world champion on the road and active for SD Worx-Protime, started the race well from the front, keeping well out of trouble during the first rounds. In the fourth, however, she was way behind and had to correct the situation on the outer lanes. However, she did so impressively, taking the lead right away.

Strong Kopecky clashes with powerful Wollaston

Kopecky was then firmly in control; she maintained the overview from the front positions, and with the field thinning constantly, it became increasingly controlled. The main remaining competitors for Kopecky were the always-dangerous American Jennifer Valente and the Italian Letizia Paternoster.

The three remained together with New Zealand's Wollaston. Kopecky started the next lap from the lead and stayed ahead of the rest; Paternoster went out, though, having fallen just short of Wollaston. The lurching to each other had then begun. Kopecky, however, did not wait and attacked, cleverly eliminating Valente in the process. The battle for the gold was thus between Kopecky and Wollaston. The Belgian launched her sprint but came to a standstill and had to leave the world title to the outstanding Wollaston. Kopecky will get another chance to go for the world title later in the Points Race.