Striking observation by Kopecky after impressive Strade Bianche victory: "I felt tired all day"

Lotte Kopecky has clinched her first major classic victory of 2024. The lady from SD Worx-Protime triumphed in grandiose fashion on Saturday in Strade Bianche, distancing her last remaining competitor Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) upon entering Siena. Remarkably, Kopecky mentioned after the race that she didn't have the best legs during the Italian gravel race.

"Compared to last week, we had the race better under control," Kopecky started by looking back at her second place in last Saturday's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. "Elena Cecchini set us up perfectly for the crucial gravel sectors, after which Mischa Bredewold kept us well out of the wind by being in the breakaway," said the world champion. European champion Bredewold eventually crashed hard, forcing Niamh Fisher-Black of the team to work hard to bring Kopecky and colleagues back to the front.

Kopecky wanted to repay SD Worx-Protime's trust

"Niamh did a great job," the Belgian also observed. "Then it was up to Demi and me from Le Tolfe. We could play around a bit, so that was perfect. I felt good, but decided to wait a bit anyway. You can go very early, but still... I eventually chose a good moment, as it turned out," Kopecky determined in the flash interview with organizer RCS.

"I didn't have my best day, actually, I suffered quite a bit," Kopecky surprisingly said. "I felt tired, but it didn't get worse. I tried not to worry about it and focus on the legs I did have. That it still worked out feels amazing. Especially in this rainbow jersey and because I recently re-signed for four more years. I wanted to repay the team's trust in this way," concluded the eager lady from Belgium.