Lotte Kopecky surprised everyone. This Sunday, the Belgian champion (SD Worx) won the first stage of the 2023 edition of the Tour de France Women, alone, after 123.8 kilometers of effort around Clermont-Ferrand. The resident of SD Worx training is ahead of her teammate, the Dutch Lorena Wiebes, European champion who settled, in the sprint, a group of pursuers, and Charlotte Kool (DSM-Firmenich). Kopecky will therefore wear the first yellow jersey of this second edition, but also that of best sprinter and best climber.
According to the profile of the day, it seemed that not much could be expected from the first part of the race, which was not conducive to attacks. And the course of this day went well in this direction. 154 riders were at the start, and it was not until kilometer 11 that the first attack took place, via the Italian Martina Alzini (Cofidis). At kilometer 18, the Frenchwoman Marie-Morgane Le Deunff (Arkéa) left alone. With an unsuccessful counter from Britain’s April Tacey (Lifeplus Wahoo). As for Le Deunff, she was taken back 99 kilometers from the finish.
Several French women show themselves
The French Typhaine Laurance (Lifeplus Wahoo), sister of Axel Laurance (Alpecin-Deceuninck), then left, without ever being joined by her compatriot Amandine Fouquenet (Arkéa), who had tried to launch the pursuit. And the Habs remained alone in the lead, up to 78.2 kilometers from the goal. At 46 kilometers, the Polish Marta Lach (Ceratizit-WNT) has, in turn, shown. The runner was picked up just before the intermediate sprint in Saint-Hippolyte, located on a long uphill false flat, at kilometer 97.1. A sprint won by Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek), former world champion.
Labous, big hunt of the day
A group of around thirty runners, with all the favourites, began, eleven kilometers from the finish, the ascent of the Durtol coast, classified in the third category, with a 1.7 kilometer long climb at an average gradient of 7.2%. 400 meters from the summit, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) launched a lightning attack. Never to be seen again, when his lead rose to 48”. At the finish, the Belgian champion won with a 41” lead over the favorites for the final victory. With the exception of the French Juliette Labous (DSM-Firmenich), 38th at 1’26” and certainly the big beat of the day.