Lotte Kopecky was not impressed after a messy sprint finish at La Vuelta a España Femenina ended with a penalty rather than a result.
The Belgian was involved in contact with fellow Belgian and eventual winner Shari Bossuyt in the run to the line. The moment that knocked her out of contention. After reviewing the footage, race officials ruled Kopecky had not held a straight line. The deviation relegated her to last place in the front group and issued a yellow card. The Team SD Worx – Protime rider was also dinged with a 200 Swiss Franc fine and an 18-point UCI deduction.
Kopecky’s statement
Kopecky did not hide her frustration.
“If I had to sprint again tomorrow, I would do exactly the same. I got a great lead-out from Anna van der Breggen, started my sprint and chose my own line, not Anna’s,” she posted on Instagram.
The former world road champion added that the situation unfolded quickly and made clear she had no issue with Bossuyt. “After watching the images, I really want to emphasize that Shari Bossuyt did nothing wrong… I just don’t agree with the jury’s decision.”
Bossuyt saw it as a racing incident.
“I think Lotte doesn’t expect me… she rides into me,” she said to Sporza. “In my opinion, it is an accident.”
El toque en el sprint entre Lotte Kopecky y su compañera de madison Shari Bossuyt#LaVuelta#UCIWWT pic.twitter.com/6nqPM5FLoS
— elsterrato (@elsterrato) May 4, 2026
Both women are much more than rivals–they are also each other’s madison partners on the track. In 2022 they won the worlds, and in 2026, became European champs in the discipline.
Stage 2 saw Victoria’s Sarah Van Dam in the mix. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider–and sole Canadian racing in Spain, was fifth.
Sadly, overall leader Noemi Rüegg did not finish. The race leader and her EF Education-Oatly teammate Elena Ciabocco crashed. Rüegg would ultimately call it a day, and it was later revealed she had a broken shoulder.
Stage 3 is the final day in the Galician region. The women will race from Padrón to A Coruña for a total of 121.2km.
You can watch Tuesday’s stage on Flobikes.com. Afterwards, check back on Canadian Cycling Magazine for a full report.
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