Team SD Worx’s performance at Dwars door Vlaanderen today was another textbook show of strength. Marlen Reusser attacked with just under 40km to go, creating a strong group off the front of the race which included the likes of Marianne Vos and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig. Behind, Demi Vollering was sitting comfortably, able to trust in the fact that Reusser was likely the strongest rider in the group ahead, but that she could launch her own attacks if the time came. Mischa Bredewold was in that group too, another SD Worx powerhouse.
Eventually when Reusser’s breakaway was brought back and the race reached an explosive finale with riders attacking repeatedly in the final 20km of the race, Vollering was able to wait patiently until the road kicked up to make her move. She exhibited extreme strength when she did so, with Vos unable to follow her wheel. From then, it was a classic SD Worx-style solo victory to the finish line for the 26-year-old, with the others marking out attacks behind. Vollering did it just how Reusser did it at Gent-Wevelgem last weekend; just like Kopecky did it at Nokere-Koerse before that and at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad earlier in the season.
It’s not only in these solo breakaways that we’re seeing SD Worx perform, either. Lorena Wiebes is the fastest sprinter in the women’s peloton on her day, and can likely win any bunch kick when she gets a sniff of the finish line. In fact, there’s rarely a race where SD Worx don’t have a chance at victory. But could this eventually be their weakness?
Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky sprinting at Strade Bianche 2023 (Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix
We saw signs of it at Strade Bianche a few weeks ago. Vollering and Kopecky came to the line together and decided not to share the victory, instead opting for a scrappy and awkward-looking sprint for the victory. Vollering took it in the end, but the situation caused an immeasurable amount of controversy on social media. Two teammates sprinting hell for leather against each other? What did this say about the harmony in the team?
However, at Strade Bianche in the end, although it might not have been the best day for the team’s PR, Kopecky and Vollering’s lack of cohesion didn’t really matter overall, because they still secured first and second place for SD Worx in the one of the biggest races of the year. However, this sort of inter-team friction might not always be as easily resolved.
At the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, SD Worx…