‘I never came back’ – Untimely mechanical leads to heartache for Lotte Kopecky in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Women

The SD Worx-Protime and FDJ United-SUEZ rivalry continues to swing in the favour of the French outfit after Demi Vollering’s victory in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday.

SD Worx-Protime were already on the back foot as they were chasing a strong breakaway of four that had gone clear on the Leberg with 37 km to go. The team had managed to reduce the gap, though, and 2023 winner Lotte Kopecky looked ready to make her mark on the Muur van Geraardsbergen when her plans were thwarted by a mass crash just before the key climb with 19km to go.