Lotte Kopecky sprints to second world championship title in Zurich
Lotte Kopecky extended her women's world title at the World Cycling Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, on Saturday. The defending champion was fastest in a sprint finish after 154km of racing. American Chloe Dygert and Italian Elisa Longo Borghini took silver and bronze respectively.
Twenty kilometres from the finish, Kopecky's race looked to be over when she was unable to keep up with an attack from Longo Borghini. But the 28-year-old Belgian was eventually able to catch up and sprint to victory against five opponents.
Mind games
"This is unbelievable," Kopecky said after the race. "I struggled on the longer, false flat sections. I deliberately chose my own pace and managed to come back that way. After that there were a lot of mind games. I tried to stay as cool as possible and use my energy at the right time."
"This is unbelievable"
Kopecky is the first female rider since Marianne Vos in 2012 and 2013 to defend her title as world champion. Last year, she became the first Belgian female rider in 50 years to win the road race world title.
The final races of the Cycling World Championships will take place on Sunday. Remco Evenepoel is one of the favourites to succeed Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel as world champion.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS
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