Epilogue to the photo finish for the Strade Bianche Women Elite Crédit Agricole where an exciting challenge was staged between two teammates, the Dutch Demi Vollering and the Belgian Lotte Kopecky, winner of the 2022 edition. The two athletes of Team SD Worx who they fought until the last meter where Demi Vollering's backstroke made the difference.
U23 European Champion 2022 e silver at the 2023 cyclo-cross world championships among the Elites, the very young Dutch did well in one of the most prestigious classics in the road calendar. The young Dutch finished in 6th place in the middle of the women's cycling cheek.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Demi Vollering, winner of the 9th Strade Bianche Crédit Agricolehe said at the press conference: “I spoke to Lotte [Kopecky] in the awards tent and she was very happy. There were no problems between us. The ending was exciting for both us and the viewers. I was very confused, I didn't know who won. When the team wins it's always nice anyway. I felt strong today, I thought I could catch Faulkner and jump her on the final climb".
Lotte Kopecky, secondSaid: “Demi and I didn't speak before the arrival. We are both professionals and we both wanted to win. It was nice to fight side by side until the last metre”.
Kristen Faulkner, third, said: “When I saw the pursuers approaching I thought the last 10km would be very tough. Every stretch of dirt road was difficult and my legs got heavier and heavier. The climbs made more difference than the dirt roads. I waited for the sixth sector to attack, I'm happy with my performance".
ORDER OF ARRIVAL STRADE BIANCHE WOMEN ELITE CRÉDIT AGRICOLE
1 – Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx) 136 km in 3h50'35” at an average speed of 35.388 km/h
2 – Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx) st
3 – Kristen Faulkner (Team Jayco AlUla) at 18″
...
6 – Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) at 2'15”
