A year later, time stopped: the same image, the same protagonist. Lotte Kopecky took the lead again in the last corner to face the straight towards the Piazza del Campo in Siena, scenario where she uncovered her enormous potential in 2022 by defeating Annemiek van Vleuten. However, this time he had the enemy at home. His teammate at SD Worx, Demi Vollering, disputed the arrival until the end and managed to overcome it in the last kidney blow. A somewhat disconcerting situation that blurs a one-two finish that took place in the previous kilometers with a spectacular team maneuver. “It was the plan,” said the Dutchwoman at the end of the race, while a handful of journalists and a few meters stood between her and Kopecky, each one on her side. The podium was completed by Kristen Faulkner and Van Vleuten finished fifth.
Arrived at the equator of the route, the sector of sterrato more demanding, the San Martino in Grania: 9.5 km of continuous ups and downs classified with five stars of difficulty. Nervousness increased, crashes appeared in the squad (the telephone company Emma Norsgaard ended up in hospital with a multiple clavicle fracture) and the first great selection was made, but despite some attacks, the peloton remained compact. Teams like Movistar, Canyon and SD Worx controlled the situation. for a few miles, Karlijn Swinkels (Jumbo), later joined by Faulkner (Jayco), made his bet from a distance, which did not worry at all to a peloton that in the approach to the last three gravel sections was about 50 units.
The race was going too slow, a hardness was missing that suited Van Vleuten, and a lot. So, to 38.5 km from the end, Movistar decided to shake the tree with Paula Patiño. However, the outpost did not prosper. Zero collaboration, too much vigilance. The leading duo took the opportunity to make their way and their lead grew to 1:50. Faulkner entered as the last survivor of the breakaway to the penultimate sector of land and Movistar, as a block, lit the fuse. It was the moment. It was quite a declaration of intent that was confirmed in the following section: 18 km to go and Van Vleuten takes action. The Dutchwoman’s acceleration broke the race and with her were her companion Lippert, Ludwig, Niewiadoma, Pieterse, Kopecky and Vollering. The latter, who was incorporated as a last resort, decided to start from behind. She surprised and gained ground for a few minutes.
With 15 km remaining, the image of the day arrived: a horse invaded the course and rode ahead of the runners. Despite the surrealism of the situation, there were no incidents to regret. At the last contact with the earth, the cards were turned face up. Kopecky, precisely where he should have suffered most, launched a tremendous attack in the middle of the climb and left all his rivals behind. Van Vleuten, unable to react. The Belgian, imperial, caught up with her partner Vollering to cooperate in the pursuit of Faulkner. SD Worx nailed it and the outcome for the American was the most painful: neutralization on the final ramp of Via Santa Caterina and goodbye to victory. The outcome, cold and strange in equal parts, was resolved in favor of Vollering in the kidney stroke. Will there be a stir in the Dutch team?
Results of the 9th Strade Bianche Donne
1st Demi Vollering (SD Worx) – 3h 50:35
2nd Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) – mt
3rd Kristen Faulkner (Jayco) – at 18″
4th Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ) – 2:01
5th Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) – mt
