Unimpressed Lotte Kopecky misses out at Paris-Roubaix after tactical misfire: “We made a bit of the wrong choice in the race”

It wasn’t to be for Lotte Kopecky at this year’s Paris-Roubaix. The reigning world champion, who stormed to victory at the Tour of Flanders just last week, appeared in excellent form once again on the cobbles. But despite her strength, the race slipped away.

Victory instead went to Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who launched a decisive solo attack from 20 kilometres out. In the aftermath, Kopecky admitted that SD Worx-Protime’s tactical decisions during the race were off the mark, suggesting key errors were made.

“I don’t have many thoughts yet. It will come very soon after the finish,” the Belgian told NOS shortly after finishing inside the iconic Roubaix Velodrome. “We made a bit of the wrong choice in the race. That Emma Norsgaard-Bjerg was still okay, but we shouldn’t have given Pauline any space.”

Once Ferrand-Prévot opened up her lead, Kopecky was forced into a domestique role, working to try and close the gap in the hope of setting up teammate Lorena Wiebes for a sprint. But her efforts couldn’t reel in the flying Visma rider.

Letting Ferrand-Prévot go up the road proved to be the turning point of the race. “I think so,” admitted Kopecky, who had already done significant work for Wiebes by that point. When asked if she had been placed in a support role too early, the world champion didn’t hide her frustration. “Yes... That's just the way it is,” she said bluntly.