02/03/2024

Lotte Kopecky drops a massive attack at Via Santa Caterina to win Strade Bianche Donne; Longo Borghini and Vollering second and third

Last year she was a close second, but this year Lotte Kopecky has taken her vengeance at Strade Bianche Donne. The World Champion won the Italian classic in style, dropping Elisa Longo Borghini in the final climb.

The 137-kilometer long race never truly had a breakaway, as the pace was fast from the start and no group managed to get any significant gap.

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Several attacks were indeed dangerous, an 11-rider move went off with just over 50 kilometers to go which included riders of all main teams. But in such a tough race cracks appeared at the front group, as did crashes.

SD Worx-ProTime and later Lidl-Trek took over the responsibility in the peloton, as the front group was reduced to three riders: Riejanne Markus, Amber Kraak and Alena Amialiusik.

They were brought back with 21 kilometers to go however. At Colle Pinzuto attacks only came after the steep section, none managed to get away from the still relatively large group. But at Le Tolfe the same wouldn't be the case. Katarzyna Niewiadoma did an all-out effort there and managed to split the group.

The Pole was joined by SD Worx duo Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering and Lidl-Trek duo Elisa Longo Borghini and Shirin van Anrooij. Tactical moves followed as teams had numbers, eventually Kopecky and Longo Borghini went up the road; whilst Kristen Faulkner joined the trio behind that began to lose time.

The duo went into the final climb together but Kopecky had a much stronger kick in the final ramp of Via Santa Caterina, and dropped Longo Borghini to take the victory. Demi Vollering sprinted to third behind ahead of Katarzyna Niewiadoma.