The Italian Strade Bianche classic takes place this Saturday, March 4. Outgoing winner, Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx) took 2nd place in the women’s event, narrowly beaten on the line by her teammate Demi Vollering. In the lead for 40 kilometers, the American Kristen Faulkner (Team Jayco AlUla) took 3rd place.
No double for Lotte Kopecky. The 27-year-old Belgian (Team SD Worx) had to settle for 2nd place this Saturday, March 4, during the 2023 edition of the Strade Bianche. The winner last year, this time she had to bow a little against her teammate, Demi Vollering. The Dutchwoman, however slightly packed against the barriers by the American Kristen Faulkner (Team Jayco AlUla) at the start of the via Santa Caterina, justice of the peace of this Italian classic, held on to throw her bike over the line.
Kopecky dropped off the other favorites
Team SD Worx was a step above this afternoon. The Dutch formation was able to play its two cards to perfection on the roads of Tuscany. By first sending Demi Vollering chasing behind Kristen Faulkner, exit just over 40 km from the finish. Before Lotte Kopecky pulled out of the group of favorites, on the penultimate white path, where we notably found Annemiek Van Vleuten (Movistar), Cecile Ludwig (FDJ – Suez), Liane Lippert (Movistar) or even cyclo-cross specialist Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck).
Kopecky caught up with her teammate just over 10 km from the line. And after a perfect agreement, they were able to drop Faulkner 600 meters from the line, in the final climb, to compete for victory.
