"I suffered all day and felt very tired" - Lotte Kopecky powers through struggles to take sensational Strade Bianche Donne victory

As expected, the fireworks went off at Strade Bianche Donne this Saturday afternoon, with Team SD Worx-Protime's Lotte Kopecky taking the win in a thrilling race.

“Compared to last week in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, we had more control today,” reflected the world champion, who has now become a two-time Strade Bianche Donne winner, in her post-race interview. “Our teammates kept us out of the wind and always put us in position. In the end it was up to me and Demi Vollering at Le Tolfe. We were able to play it out well.”

After initially looking to be struggling, Kopecky was either bluffing or had a second win as she made a blitzing attack on Via Santa Caterina to drop Elisa Longo Borghini and fire her way towards victory.

“I waited a little longer than usual, but that was the right time," she assesses. "I feel I have more confidence uphill. Despite this, I still didn't have my best day. I suffered all day and felt very tired, but I didn't get any worse. So I knew I had to have confidence.”