Defending champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) had to settle for fourth in the Tour of Flanders Women on Sunday, bettered by a stronger rider and hampered by an incident for Lorena Wiebes on the Koppenberg.
Kopecky was primed for a tough challenge to defend her title and chase a record fourth victory, but in the moment the race was decided, the Belgian did not have the legs to follow the winning attack from Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) on the Oude Kwaremont.
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Even without that mistake, though, Bredewold was clear that any chase or fight back would have been only to reel back in Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech), not to go for the victory.
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