Lotte Kopecky takes first win of 2026 at Nokere Koerse

Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) has secured her first victory of the 2024 season, dominating the women's Nokere Koerse on Wednesday. The reigning World Champion launched a decisive attack on the cobbled climb of Nokereberg, distancing her rivals in the closing kilometres to cross the line solo. Lorena Wiebes, her teammate, secured second place, completing a formidable one-two punch for the Dutch squad in the Belgian one-day race.

This early-season triumph is significant for Kopecky, who has consistently been a force in the Classics but often takes a few races to hit her stride. Coming off a strong 2023 campaign that included the World Championship road race and multiple Classics, this win signals her immediate intent and confirms SD Worx-Protime's continued dominance. Her ability to win solo on a challenging, cobbled parcours underscores her versatility and formidable form, setting a high bar for her competitors as the Spring Classics season truly ignites.

Kopecky's victory is less a surprise and more a confirmation: the peloton's reigning queen has arrived, and the rest are already playing catch-up.