World Cycling Championships 2024: Kopecky wins six-up sprint to reclaim world title

foto: Cor VosIt's raining and cold, making the World Championships road race even more challenging. It comes down to a six-up sprint, and Lotte Kopecky takes the win. Chloé Dygert and Elisa Longo Borghini finish second and third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results women’s road race 2024 Worlds

1. Lotte Kopecky (bel)
2. Chloé Dygert (usa) s.t.
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (ita) s.t.
4. Liane Lippert (ger) s.t.
5. Demi Vollering (nld) s.t.
6. Ruby Roseman-Gannon (aus) s.t.
7. Justine Ghekiere (bel) + 1.06
8. Marianne Vos (nld) s.t.
9. Riejanne Markus (nld) s.t.
10. Blanka Vas (hun) + 3.00

Race report
Caroline Baur initiates the first breakaway early in the race, while Sara Martín and Nina Berton join her. The three open a gap of almost 2 minutes.

Berton drops her companions with 105 kilometres remaining. Moments later, the peloton overhauls her.

The next break features Justine Ghekiere, Riejanne Markus, Sarah Gigante, Urska Zigart, Elena Hartmann, Christine Majerus, Mie Bjørndal Ottestad, Franziska Koch, Soraya Paladin, Mischa Bredewold and Niamh Fisher-Black. Their lead widens to 35 seconds.

The second breakaway is reeled in around the halfway marker of the race. The peloton is down to some fourty riders at that point.

Ten riders remain at the front in the penultimate lap as Neve Bradbury attacks. Demi Vollering tracks her down before Elisa Longo Borghini brings the others back in contention. Then Caroline Andersson gives it a go.

Riejanne Markus takes over the attack, while Justine Ghekiere rejoins her. The two open a lead of almost 1 minute.

Marianne Vos and Ruby Roseman-Gannon bridge across with 33 kilometres to go. The quartet enters the last lap with an advantage of 1 minute.

After the Zürichbergstrasse a group with Lotte Kopecky, Chloé Dygert, Demi Vollering, Elisa Longo Borghini, and Liane Lippert go after the four.

Longo Borghini, Vollering, and Lippert make the junction on the Witikonerstrasse. Markus loses contact before being caught by Dygert and Kopecky.

As Vos is dropped, she is caught by Dygert and Kopecky. The three rejoin the front inside the last 14 kilometres. Moments later, Markus is present as well.

Vollering accelerates on the last uphill section, dropping Vos, Markus, and Ghekiere, before Longo Borghini sets off with 5.5 kilometres to go. Vollering, Kopecky, and Lippert catch her just under a kilometre later.

In the final kilometre, Dygert and Roseman-Gannon also manage to join the group. In the ensuing sprint it is Kopecky who takes a commanding victory. Dygert crosses the line in second place, while Longo Borghini holds off Lippert to take bronze.

Other interesting reads: route and start list 2024 World Cycling Championships, women’s road race.