World champion Lotte Kopecky got here into the eighth and last stage of the Giro d’Italia Ladies with a easy however not simple objective, to seize the one single second separating her from race chief Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek). Her objective was to complete high three on the stage forward of the race chief and take the bonus seconds to take the highest step of the ultimate podium.
“I’ve nothing to lose and I can simply go all in at present and attempt to go for the bonus [seconds] on the end,” Kopecky stated at first of stage 8 in Pescara.
However, to realize that objective, Kopecky and her SD Worx-Protime workforce wanted to manage all assaults all through the 109km stage 8 which featured a really lengthy however comparatively shallow third-category climb within the first 50km adopted by the 13.7km climb to Castel del Monte, averaging 4.7%.
Assaults flew from the beginning when three riders escaped earlier than being reeled in earlier than the intermediate dash at Catignano. One other group of 4 made their manner off the entrance and managed to determine a niche of over 30 seconds earlier than being caught by the lowered peloton led by Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx-Protime) on the first-category Castel del Monte climb.
Assaults continued to fly as Kopecky needed to shut down among the strikes herself till the decisive break of three riders went away with 36km to go. With solely Fisher-Black main the chase from the 20-rider peloton, the hole elevated to 1:20 on the backside of the Acquasanta climb.
The break made it to the road with Kim Le Courtroom (AG Insurance coverage-Soudal) taking the win whereas behind Kopecky went to the entrance with 700 metres to go to strive once more to attract the one second that she wanted however the reverse occurred when Longo Borghini was capable of distance Kopecky within the finale steep climb.
“It was not so good. Right this moment was a reasonably laborious stage, I imply the struggle was good, that is for positive, and shedding to Elisa isn’t a disgrace. She’s a brilliant good bike rider, so I even have a whole lot of respect for her. Nevertheless it was actually laborious to manage the stage, and all people tried to enter the break, which is their proper, in fact,” Kopecky stated after the stage.
“My teammates did what they might, after which ultimately Niamh gave 200% so we did every thing we might to attempt to win the GC, however ultimately, it is second, and it is nonetheless very good to turn into second within the Grand Tour.”
The primary Belgian rider to complete on the Giro total podium, Kopecky comes away with a stage win, the factors jersey in addition to ending second within the total classification.
She couldn’t disguise her disappointment after the stage. “In case you’re this near successful a Giro, then in fact, you additionally need to win it. In order that’s a bit bitter, however I feel total, I simply have to be happy with my workforce and of myself.”
“I’ve to take a look at the larger image. I got here right here to organize for the Olympics, and I feel I am in actually fine condition, and that, in fact, provides me confidence.”
Kopecky will likely be racing the Time Trial and Highway Race in addition to the endurance monitor occasions on the 2024 Paris Olympic Video games.
