Lotte Kopecky (26) has won the Tour of Flanders in the Belgian champion’s jersey. Can it be even more beautiful? Our commentator Ruben Van Gucht answers 5 questions after Kopecky’s magnificent performance.
1. Did you know that it was in when Kopecky stormed to the finish with her teammate and Van Vleuten?
Ruben Van Gucht: “We had the feeling in the comment booth that she was going to finish it, yes.”
“Because we had already seen them do it in the Strade Bianche. And the boulevard in Oudenaarde suits her even better than the finish in Siena.”
“Add to that the preparatory work of Chantal van den Broek-Blaak. Then we knew: “The puzzle falls together.”
“Her strong team also gives Kopecky wings. She is no longer alone and thus has energy left for the final sprint in a classic. SD Worx did not yet have such a type in house.”
2. Has Annemiek van Vleuten lost her wings?
Ruben Van Gucht: “No, the Dutch can still race very strong. Allen would never have been able to follow her. Now she bumped into Kopecky. Whatever Van Vleuten tried, the Belgian tricolor was always there.”
Because Van Vleuten (39) is starting to feel her age? “No”, our commentator thinks. “Because a lot of difficult names were no longer in her wheel. Vos, Balsamo, Longo Borghini, … they were no longer in her wheel. Kopecky was.”
3. Can Kopecky also score in Roubaix?
Ruben Van Gucht: “Yes. She also has a chance in the Amstel Gold Race with this condition. And if I look a bit further, the green jersey in the Tour must also be hers.”
She also has to compete for the green jersey.
4. Will she also be the favorite at the start of the World Cup?
“I think so,” replies Ruben Van Gucht. “Because we can gradually form a beautiful Belgian team.”
“Shari Bossuyt reveals herself, Julie De Wilde sprints to a second place in Dwars door Vlaanderen at the age of 19 and Valerie Demey also drove a nice Ronde.”
“So we have 3 riders who can ride a final next to Lotte. And 3 riders who can help Lotte to the world title.”
“With Julie De Wilde (photo), Shari Bossuyt and Valerie Demey, we still have 3 riders who can ride a final.”
5. What do you think is the best thing about her performance in the Ronde?
Ruben Van Gucht: “5 years ago it was unthinkable to get the masses into a delirium for a woman who wins. Now it works. And that says a lot about the road that women’s cycling has traveled.”
