Two silver medals for Belgian riders on final day of track cycling championships
Belgium’s riders have finished the Track Cycling World Championships with two silver medals courtesy of Lotte Kopecky in the points race and Lindsay De Vylder and Fabio Van den Bossche in the madison.
Kopecky ended a successful season with her second medal at the event in Denmark on Sunday. She narrowly missed out on defending her title in an exciting race after suffering trouble with her chain. Gold went to Danish rider Julie Leth with 43 points, ahead of Kopecky on 40 and Lara Gillespie of Ireland on 39.
De Vylder and Van den Bossche also won silver in a close-fought competition. With the German pair taking an early unassailable lead, there was a three-way battle for the two remaining podium spots. The Belgians held off the riders from Denmark and Portugal to take silver.
Remarkable season
The points race was the end of a remarkable season for Kopecky. Earlier this year, she won the world road title in Zurich, became European champion in the time trial, took two titles at the European Track Cycling Championships, was runner-up in the World Gravel Championships gravel and won her first Paris-Roubaix.
The Belgian delegation have won a total of three medals in Denmark, with De Vylder taking gold in the omnium. Sunday’s silver was Kopecky’s second medal at the event, following her silver in the elimination race.
Elsewhere on the final day, fellow Belgian Jules Hesters finished 18th in the men’s elimination race.
Lotte Kopecky on the podium at the Track Cycling World Championships in Ballerup, Denmark, 20 October 2024 © PHOTO JONATHAN NACKSTRAND / AFP
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