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Matilda Price

'The win was not in our reach today' – Loss of Lorena Wiebes on Koppenberg costly for Lotte Kopecky in Tour of Flanders

OUDENAARDE, BELGIUM - APRIL 05: (L-R) Zoe Backstedt of Great Britain and Team CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto, Lotte Kopecky of Belgium and Team SD Worx - Protime and Karlijn Swinkels of Netherlands and UAE Team ADQ sprint at finish line during the 23rd Tour of Flanders 2026 - Ronde van Vlaandere - Women's Elite a 164.1km one day race from Oudenaarde to Oudenaarde / #UCIWWT / on April 05, 2026 in Oudenaarde, Belgium. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images).

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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