Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) returned to road racing with a victory at the one-day Veenendaal-Veenendaal Classic. Kopecky won the sprint ahead of Martina Fidanza (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling) and Daria Pikulik (Human Powered Health).
"On the penultimate lap, we tried to take advantage of the wind, but it just didn't blow hard enough to create echelons. Actually, we knew in advance that it would end in a bunch sprint," Kopecky said.
"Mischa Bredewold, Lonneke Uneken and Barbara Guarischi provided the perfect lead-out, after which it was up to me to finish it off."
The women's field raced 140km across four large circuits that included the ascents of Grebbeberg and the Paardenveld.
A three-rider breakaway formed that included Eline Jansen (WV Schijndel), Sophie Edwards (ARA-Skip Capital) and Anneke Dijkstra (GT Krush Rebellease). The trio was caught just before the fourth and final lap, and Kopecky won the sprint to take the day's win.
It was Kopecky's fourth road racing win of the season after also winning at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Nokere Koerse, and Tour of Flanders, which gives her confidence for the rest of the season.
"On the one hand, that gives confidence, but on the other hand, I also started last year immediately with a sprint victory in Vuelta a Burgos, after which the second part of the season was otherwise not top. So I remain calm under it. It's a nice start this way, though," she said.
Kopecky will next be in action in Lotto Thüringen Ladies Tour (May 23-28), Duracell Dwars door het Hageland (June 10), Lotto Belgium Tour (June 14-18) and the Belgian time trial championships (June 22) and road race (June 25).
Results
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Van Gils crash occurs in three-way sprint for second and third place, Jan Christen disqualified after incident -
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Briton finishes second after UAE Team Emirates-XRG's strength added another hurdle -
'I'd prefer he wasn't here' – Josh Tarling and Ethan Hayter stay upbeat but realistic ahead of challenging Remco Evenepoel in UAE Tour time trial
Belgian to start fifth at 12:54, with race leader Isaac del Toro set to roll down the start ramp last, almost two and a half hours later -
'It's historically embraced practices that have put riders' bone health at risk' - How pro cycling is tackling its awkward relationship with low bone density
For all of cycling's health benefits, bone density isn't one of them, so how are the pros combating the effects that a career in the saddle has on their bones, and what can we learn from them?
