Kopecky dedicates road race world title to deceased junior

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Lotte Kopecky won the world road title for the second time in a row on Saturday, ahead of the American Chloe Dygert and the Italian Elisa Longo Borghini.

On a hilly route around Zurich in 2024 on a cold and rainy day, a slower-than-expected pace allowed Kopecky to thrive, while Dygert almost stole the title with a late attack from behind after Longo Borghini had started the sprint from 250 meters.

The powerfully built Kopecky would probably be less comfortable on the rolling route from Zurich than the flatter route to Glasgow, where she won in 2023.

The 28-year-old Olympic bronze medalist in Paris immediately dedicated her new world title to junior rider Muriel Furrer, who died on Friday after a fall.

“The minute’s silence at the start, seeing the Swiss riders cry is something you don’t want to see and I think it is a very difficult moment for them too,” said the Belgian.

“First of all, I would like to express my condolences to Muriel’s family.”

The race started from the beautiful town of Uster and raced entirely around the nearby Greifensee Lake, a well-known hiking and cycling destination.

The high-quality surface of the four-lap circuit around Zurich, with plenty of rolling terrain and short, steep sections, led to a series of attacks that reduced the size of the peloton.

The Dutch team led by Demi Vollering set a strong pace considering the rain, and while she sprinted to the line in the six-rider group, she failed to make the podium after starting as favorite to win .

“It was raining and cold and I was already frozen three laps before the end. So I just tried to stay calm,” explained Kopecky, who won the Paris-Roubaix cobbled classic in April in similar conditions.

“When Demi attacked on the long climb, I followed my own rhythm. In the end it became a war of nerves.”

Vollering finished fifth after holding an agonizing four-second lead for the Tour de France title this season, saying she felt “sour”.

Vollering had dropped Kopecky with 17km to go, but due to the large number of riders still together, the leading group was unable to form a working agreement to distance themselves from the Belgian.

One of the surprise dropouts was Olympic mountain bike champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, the Frenchwoman who opted to climb back into the team bus after the first round of Zurich.

Tour de France winner Kasia Niewiadoma also dropped out early.

Earlier on Saturday, David Lappartient, head of the International Cycling Union (UCI), urged fans to wait for a police report on Furrer, who died after falling on rainy roads during the junior race.

“I will not comment directly on this because there are ongoing police investigations. That is their job, I cannot answer it,” said the UCI president.

“Everyone has their mission when it comes to an accident like this. It is up to the police to determine everything.”

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