To date this season Lotte Kopecky has taken on three at some point races, with two wins and a runner up spot to point out for it so despite the fact that she could also be a late alternative with ‘no expectations’ as she makes her Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio debut, that is hardly more likely to make her rivals view the world champion as any much less of a menace on Sunday.
It’s a race her SD Worx-Protime squad hasn’t received since 2016, when Lizzie Deignan took victory for a second yr working whereas sporting the colors of Boels Dolmans, a former incarnation of the staff, however now Deignan shall be lining up as simply one of many many playing cards for Lidl-Trek, which has received the final three editions of the race. Essentially the most profitable rider for SD Worx-Protime in recent times has been Chantal van den Broek-Blaak, who got here second in 2018 after which fourth in 2022, however she has needed to bow out late after a crash at Nokere-Koerse.
The staff, nonetheless, is clearly not able to fold its hand at Trofeo Alfredo Binda however as an alternative added one in every of its strongest trump playing cards to bolster it.
“So now now we have the world champion initially,” stated sport director Anna van der Breggen in an announcement. “Lotte can trip right here with out strain. We’ve got completely no expectations of her, as a result of the change is last-minute. She is all the time an added worth to have on the staff. It is a powerful race when it comes to altimeters. Lotte is a giant assist anyway.”
Kopecky shall be racing alongside the likes of Elena Cecchini – who has a robust document on the occasion and might properly be a contender for the staff – Niamh Fisher-Black, Femke Gerritse, Barbara Guarischi and likewise Marlen Reusser. Van der Breggen pointed to Reusser as a rider that the race might swimsuit completely, however sickness has delivered some doubt about her type.
“I actually like this race,” stated Reusser. “At first I had actually excessive expectations, however I did undergo from that COVID an infection. I could not practice and misplaced time due to it. Consequently, my type is just not tremendous, however I really feel fairly good once more.”
Both approach, SD Worx-Protime is clearly getting into the 140.5km Girls’s WorldTour occasion with loads of choices, which could possibly be essential given the unpredictable nature of the race, which Van der Breggen stated the staff is heading towards with an open thoughts.
“Trofeo Alfredo Binda is all the time an amazing race to observe, exactly due to the unpredictability,” stated Van der Breggen. “Right here a breakaway can carry to the tip. Generally that ends in there being too many assault makes an attempt, so no one will get away and it finally ends up being a bunch dash in any case. A dash with an elite group can be potential and up to now now we have seen lengthy solos right here. Briefly: fascinating,”
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