World champion Lotte Kopecky got here into the eighth and closing stage of the Giro d’Italia Women with a easy however not simple aim, to seize one single second separating her from race chief Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek). Her aim was to complete prime 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 immediately and attempt to go for the bonus [seconds] on the end,” Kopecky mentioned firstly of stage 8 in Pescara.
But, to realize that aim, Kopecky and her SD Worx-Protime staff 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%.
Attacks flew from the beginning when three riders escaped earlier than being reeled in earlier than the intermediate dash at Catignano. Another group of 4 made their manner off the entrance and managed to ascertain a niche of over 30 seconds earlier than being caught by the diminished peloton led by Niamh Fisher-Black on the first-category Castel del Monte climb.
Attacks continued to fly as Kopecky needed to shut down among the strikes herself till the decisive transfer 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 Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) taking the win whereas behind Kopecky went to the entrance with 700 metres to go to attempt 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. Today was a reasonably onerous stage, I imply the combat was good, that is for positive, and dropping to Eliza will not be a disgrace. She’s a brilliant good bike rider, so I even have lots of respect for her. But it was actually onerous to manage the stage, and everyone tried to enter the break, which is their proper, in fact,” Kopecky mentioned after the stage.
“My teammates did what they might, after which ultimately Niamh gave 200% so we did all the things we might to try to win the GC, however ultimately, it is second, and it is nonetheless very good to develop into second within the Grand Tour.”
The first Belgian rider to complete on the Giro general podium, Kopecky comes away with a stage win, the factors jersey in addition to ending second within the general classification.
She couldn’t conceal her disappointment after the stage. “If you are this near profitable a Giro, then in fact, you additionally wish to win it. So that is a bit bitter, however I believe general, I simply should be pleased with my staff and of myself.”
“I’ve to have a look at the larger image. I got here right here to arrange for the Olympics, and I believe I’m in actually fine condition, and that, in fact, offers me confidence.”
Kopecky will probably be racing the Time Trial and Road Race in addition to the endurance observe occasions on the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
