SD Worx take control for Kopecky to win Strade Bianche

Belgian champ outsprints van Vleuten in Tuscany, reports James Shrubsall

- James Shrubsall

At Strade Bianche last Saturday SD Worx proved rumours of their demise had been greatly exaggerated. The Dutch team produced a swashbuckling performance in Italy, dominating the closing 30km of the race to deliver new signing Lotte Kopecky to the biggest victory of her career.

The Belgian champion held the wheel of double winner and pre-race favourite Annemiek van Vleuten on the climb into Siena, before diving up the inside on the final corner.

Kopecky’s move was redolent of van Vleuten’s own divebomb at last week’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, which saw her outsprint another SD Worx rider, Demi Vollering, to take victory. Vollering had sat on for most of the final 13km and her inability to take victory in what was her and the team’s opening race, attracted comment that SD Worx’s dominance had gone with Anna van der Breggen’s retirement.

Calculated aggression

Saturday’s masterclass of calculated aggression dispelled that notion. While they had made their presence felt earlier, SD Worx took the race by the scruff of the neck with 30km to go.