Tour de France Femmes 2023: Lotte Kopecky rips away to Stage 1 win in Clermont-Ferrand, takes yellow jersey
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 23/07/2023 at 15:46 GMT
The second edition of the Tour de France Femmes is underway, with Lotte Kopecky taking the spoils on the opening stage. The Belgian exploded clear in the closing kilometres to take a 32nd professional victory in her iconic Belgium national champion jersey. Lorena Wiebes soon made it a one-two for SD Worx after seeing off Charlotte Kool and Marianne Vos in the sprint behind.
Stage 1 highlights: SD Worx one-two as Kopecky soars into yellow
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) rode into the yellow jersey with a dominant solo victory on Stage 1 at the 2023 Tour de France Femmes.
After the peloton was shredded on the day's only categorised climb – the Cat. 3 Cote de Durtol – Kopecky launched off the front with 9km remaining and quickly put distance between her and the chasers.
A large group formed behind but failed to cooperate as Kopecky increased her advantage on the run back in to Clermont-Ferrand, eventually coming home over 40 seconds clear of the bunch.
Lorena Wiebes made it an SD Worx one-two by comfortably winning the sprint behind.
It took 18km from the flag going down until the first meaningful attack was launched. Arkea Pro Cycling's Marie-Morgane le Deunff was the protagonist and she split from the peloton with no reaction from the riders behind.
A few moments later and with Le Deunff 30 seconds up the road, British rider April Tacey (Lifeplus Wahoo) staged her counter-attack. This time the bunch retaliated and Tacey was swept back up. Before long Le Deunff suffered the same fate as a Lidl-Trek-powered peloton caught her with 99km to go.
A second French rider, Typhaine Laurance (Lifeplus Wahoo) was the next to attack, followed by a counter from fellow countrywoman Amandine Fouquenet (Arkea Pro Cycling).
Disaster then struck AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep after 27km when Mireia Benito suffered a nasty crash at speed into a ditch. After the swift arrival of medical assistance, she was taken to hospital and was the first rider to abandon the race. The team later confirmed she had suffered a concussion but "no other serious injuries".
Laurance’s lead ahead of the peloton dropped from 30 seconds to 20, with Fouquenet sat only a few seconds behind her. But with 78km remaining, the solo leader and her chaser were caught by the peloton who would stay as one for the next 30km.
After a refuel for the bunch, Marta Lach (Ceratizit–WNT Pro Cycling) was raring to go and went solo with a fresh bidon in hand, again with no reaction from those behind with 45km to go.
At the back of the peloton there was a slight clash between India Grangier (Team Coop - Hitec Products) and Amber Pate (Team Jayco AlUla), who both continued unscathed, while at the front of the race Lach had generated a 40-second lead - but the peloton once again closed in on the solo attacker and Lach rejoined them with 31km.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2023/07/23/3749592-76281773-2560-1440.jpg)
'It's amazing' – Kopecky on starring in SD Worx one-two
At 28km to go a crash in the middle of the peloton slowed down proceedings momentarily for those behind, in particular defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) who was slightly delayed due to the stoppage.
The intermediate sprint then loomed near, and a Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek) attack gained her maximum points as she crossed under the green archway first. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep) was close behind and took second with Karlijn Swinkels (Jumbo-Visma) third.
After the sprint, focus turned to the climb. After Deignan’s attack for the intermediate sprint, Lidl-Trek were well placed at the front of the peloton, however, team-mate Elisa Balsamo was dropped from the back of the group.
The peloton powered on and picked up speed as they came towards the base of Cote de Durtol. Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) pulled at the front of the leading group as they approached 10km to go and with the peloton detached due to the increasing speed, it was not long before Kopecky saw her golden opportunity to attack.
The Belgian went around the outside of the group and continued to push on to take the Queen of the Mountains solo, despite the efforts of Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM Racing) to counter. At the same time, Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) was dropped from the chasing group.
Kopecky’s lead continued to rise and with 5km to go she had created a 36-second advantage. She looked comfortable in the lead and continued in her pursuit of the first yellow jersey. Niewiadoma staged a few fruitless attacks in the group behind, but none were enough to catch up with Kopecky.
As Kopecky passed the flamme rouge the stage was decided and by the time she crossed the line she had a built a 41-second lead.
Wiebes made it an SD Worx one-two for yet another time this season as has been all too common when she crossed the line in second, swiftly followed by Charlotte Kool (dsm-firmenich) in third and Vos in fourth. Last year’s GC winner Van Vleuten crossed the line for the first stage in 13th, 43 seconds behind.
Kopecky’s impressive attack was not only rewarded with the first stage win and the first yellow jersey, but she also earned both the points and the Queen of the Mountains jerseys. Moolman-Pasio will wear the green jersey on Monday and Niewiadoma will don the red and white polka dots.
French rider Cedrine Kerbaol (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling), who finished 37th, took the first young rider jersey.
Monday's stage sees the hills ramp up as the peloton travel 152km from Clermont-Ferrand to Mauriac over six climbs.
- - -
Stream the 2023 Tour de France Femmes live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement