World Championship Race Report: Lotte Kopecky is World road champion for the second time. The Belgian looked to be out of the top results in the final, but came back into the race in an extremely exciting finish. She then sprinted to victory. Chloé Dygert (USA) was second, Elisa Longo Borghini third. Only 24 riders finished a very tough Worlds road race.
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Another rainbow jersey for Lotte Kopecky
From the wet start in Uster, the riders had a flat lap around Greifensee before the circuit in Zurich. This lap was ridden once before they crossed the finish line for the first time. The Zurich circuit had to be ridden four times before the finish.
Worlds’24 women’s road race map
The Zurich circuit is 26.8 kilometres long with two climbs in quick succession at the start: the Zürichbergstrasse (1.1km at 7.4%) and then the Witikonerstrasse (3.5km at 4.4%). This was followed by a rolling plateau of about 10 kilometres, a descent and a smaller climb of 1.5 kilometres with a ramp of 5%, 5 kilometres from the finish.
Worlds’24 women’s road race profile
After a minute silence for Muriel Furrer, the Swiss rider who died on Thursday during the World U19 championships, the race got underway. The first attack came from Caroline Baur who build up a nice lead. The Swiss rider was joined by Spain’s Sara Martín and Luxembourger Nina Berton. This trio soon had a minute on the peloton. Several riders tried to cross, but these attacks were quickly closed down. The lead of Bauer, Martín and Berton increased and at the foot of the first climb, 130 kilometres from the finish, they had nearly 2 minutes.
The Swiss team wearing black armbands at the start in memory of Muriel Furrer, who suffered a fatal crash during the junior race
On the climb there was a split in the peloton, but none of the favourites were dropped. The top riders were still keeping their powder dry, but not for long. Lotte Kopecky hit the front 118 kilometres from the finish, but the Belgian was only testing the water and didn’t continue. The reigning World champion was maybe showing us what she had in mind for the rest of the race. It was very restless in the peloton and there was lots of action. At the back of the peloton riders were being dropped as other were attacking at the front. The three early escapees, who were caught one by one. Next a dangerous break of eleven riders formed.
It was going to be a hard day
Riejanne Markus and Mischa Bredewold were there for the Netherlands and Justine Ghekiere for Belgium. Soraya Paladin (Italy), Sarah Gigante (Australia), Elena Hartmann (Switzerland), Franziska Koch (Germany), Niamh Fisher-Black (New Zealand), Mie Bjørndal Ottestad (Norway), Christine Majerus (Luxembourg) and Urška Žigart (Slovenia) were with them. Not every country had gone with the move: The Polish and Americans had missed it and had to chase. With combined work, they kept the lead manageable as they crossed the Zürichbergstrasse for the second time. The break was caught after some strong work by Pauliena Rooijakkers.
Better in the break or in the Peloton?
The Netherlands team wanted a hard race, despite having two riders in the front group, so Rooijakkers kept a high pace for top favorite Vollering. The group of favourites was thinned out on the Witikonerstrasse. Only 42 riders remained at the start of the penultimate lap. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who was a favourite before the start, was one of the riders in trouble. The Dutch team continued putting the pressure on in an attempt to make the race even harder and more selective. Vollering also put in an attack on one of the climbs, but this came to nothing. On the penultimate passage of the Zürichbergstrasse, there was another selection.
Cold and wet
On the Witikonerstrasse the race split to pieces. After a final turn on the front by Rooijakkers, it was up to Vollering to put in a death blow. The Dutch leader put in a big attack and dropped Anna Henderson, Tour winner Niewiadoma and teammate Marianne Vos. Ten riders managed to hold Vollering, so she decided to sit up. This caused a lull in the action and gave Elisa Longo Borghini, Pieterse and Caroline Anderssson the oppertunity to attack, but they couldn’t get away. A move by Markus was more successful. Ghekiere went with her, as the other riders looked at each other. They increased their lead to 50 seconds, but Markus had to do the work herself, with no help from Ghekiere.
Mischa Bredewold and Lotte Kopecky
World Championship women’s Road Race Result:
1. Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) in 4:05:26
2. Chloe Dygert (USA)
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy)
4. Liane Lippert (Germany)
5. Demi Vollering (Netherlands)
6. Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Australia)
7. Justine Ghekiere (Belgium) at 1:06
8. Marianne Vos (Netherlands)
9. Riejanne Markus (Netherlands)
10. Kata Blanka Vas (Hungary) at 3:00.
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