"A few teammates need to wake up" - Lotte Kopecky sends warning to Team SD Worx - Protime following Dwars Door Vlaanderen disappointment

After their supreme dominance of the Spring Classics in 2023, it's somewhat strange to see Team SD Worx - Protime not firing on all cylinders this time around. On Wednesday at Dwars Door Vlaanderen, the team missed the podium completely.

According to one of their star riders, world champion, Lotte Kopecky, this disappointment should be a wake-up call for the whole team. “The general feeling was certainly good but a few teammates need to wake up," the Belgian expressed her frustration post-race to Het Nieuwsblad having finished 4th, with Marianne Vos taking the win.

"Someone from our team should always have been there on the cobblestone section where that group rode away," continues Kopecky's assessment. “Okay, maybe I could have been there myself. But others could also have taken the initiative.”

Despite being alone, Kopecky was in a strong position heading into the finale before Vos and Shirin van Anrooij broke free. “Gambled and lost,” she summarizes. “But I was very sharp throughout the race and reacted at the right moments, except for that cobblestone stretch and that late attack. I have myself to thank for that. But there are certainly no doubts in my mind.”

Faced with these comments and the disappointment, Team SD Worx - Protime's sports director, Danny Stam admitted their performances left much to be desired. “I thought we were far from sharp. Not Lotte either, because otherwise she wouldn't have to jump to the leading group. That's where you start chasing the facts. You can't afford mistakes like that in current cycling. What is the reason for this lack of sharpness? That's hard to say,” he analyses.

“It was also a strange situation with the race being neutralized (due to a car accident on the course ed.), the course being shortened and some climbs being removed. But that shouldn't be an excuse," Stam concludes. "When you see Lidl-Trek gathering, you know you have to be attentive. And we weren't.”