Lotte Kopecky settles for 4th place against flying Demi Vollering: "That was the best I could aim for"

Lotte Kopecky fell short of a fourth Women’s Tour of Flanders title. The SD Worx - Protime leader finished fourth, just off the podium, in a race where she acknowledged the superiority of the winner, Demi Vollering.

The decisive move came on the Oude Kwaremont. After a strong lead-out from her FDJ United - SUEZ teammate Franziska Koch, Vollering attacked on the cobbles and immediately opened a gap. Ferrand-Prévot was the only one to put up a fight, before slipping back into the chasing group of Pieterse and Kopecky. Over the top, Vollering already held a clear advantage over her rivals.

On the Paterberg, Vollering stretched her advantage further, riding clear to all but seal the race. Behind, Pieterse and Ferrand-Prévot split briefly before regrouping on the flat, trading pulls for the remaining podium places, while Kopecky’s group hovered behind without closing the gap.

With the race in pieces, the final kilometres became solo efforts rather than organised pursuits. Vollering reached Oudenaarde alone to seal victory, capping a dominant display built on patience early and a precise strike at the key moment.

Behind her, Pieterse and Ferrand-Prévot secured the other podium spots after holding off the chasers, while Kopecky was relegated to fighting for the minor placings after earlier efforts.

"There were still three UAE Team ADQ riders in the chase. I thought we might still catch them for second, but we didn’t get any closer. So it was a sprint for fourth. That was the best we could aim for," Kopecky told Sporza after the finish.

With no time for regrets, Kopecky now turns to her next major target: Paris-Roubaix, where she will have another chance to shine on the cobbles. "I don’t think I need to change my strategy. I think I rode a pretty good race here. I don’t have to worry about next week. That’s something completely different," she concluded.