Lotte Kopecky claimed the overall win in the Simac Ladies Tour at the weekend after an impressive win for Team SD Worx-Protime in the final stage.
After four wins in five stages, the Simac Ladies Tour had already been a downright success for the Dutch team, but Lotte Kopecky provided the icing on the cake and more. After kilometres of teamwork to catch back the breakaway rider Silke Smulders (Liv AlUla Jayco), the world champion sprinted to victory, ahead of teammate Lorena Wiebes who ensured Kopecky won, grabbing the necessary bonification seconds to also win the general classification. With that, the world champion also wins the WorldTour ranking. ‘This was the perfect example of teamwork. This is a special win,’ a delighted Kopecky said afterwards.
‘I am happy with the overall victory in the Simac Ladies Tour. Especially because it was a very special week with the team. We took no less than five of the six stages and the overall classification after an exciting end of the Tour. After the heavy crash in Saturday’s stage, I didn’t expect to have such good legs. The team did everything possible to grab back a rock-solid Silke Smulders.”
“We had already noticed that it was difficult to really get away. So we were told from the car that we would go for the sprint and bonus seconds. We knew what we had to do, but then when you see the super chase my teammates put down…. that was really impressive.’
‘It was a difficult sprint and consequently not easy to finish first. But after all the team’s work, I had to go full out. I win the final classification by two seconds. That’s close, but in the end only the stage win – and the overall victory – count. This was the perfect example of teamwork!’
Luxembourg’s Christine Majerus also rode her very last professional race. ‘Christine is a fantastic cyclist and team player, but above all a fantastic person. She will be sorely missed next year!’
Lotte Kopecky won the first WorldTour race of the season as well as the last in which Team SD Worx-Protime participated in 2024 to perfectly bookend the season. In between, she could tick off all her big goals: Paris-Roubaix, an Olympic medal and becoming world champion again. Her success also includes Strade Bianche, Nokere Koerse, multiple stages in stage races and four overall wins in WorldTour races. Was it the perfect season? ‘I would dare to say it was a perfect season,’ finished Kopecky with well-earned pride.
