Lotte Kopecky has dominated the GP Samyn for women, she sprinted to her first victory of the season after a final with a large group.
First, my apologies to Lauren Creamer (LIV) as I overlooked her on the entry list, she was the best of the Irish girls in 84th place, this in the same time as Alice Sharp (87th) and Mia Griffin ( 89th) of the “Rupelcleaning-Champion Lubricants CT” 9 minutes down to the winner Kopecky, 154 girls started and 108 finished!! After some breaks, a big group formed around the 30km mark, attack after attack saw the group split up and a small group dangled upfront till 2 kilometers from the end, everyone started to look back. Things came to a complete standstill and a large group, including Kopecky, joined again. Liv Racing kept things under control and the peloton prepared for a sprint. Movistar’s steam train accelerated the pace. It was fighting for a place in the front. Lotte Kopecky was expertly brought forward by her teammates, Norsgaard was too quick to lead, but took off like a rocket. Lotte Kopecky showed off her excellent sprinter’s legs and settled in the Danish’s wake. The Belgian champion was unstoppable, passed Norsgaard in the decisive meters, and won.
Van der Poel sacrifices himself (out of necessity due to a snapped brake) Merlier finishes in style to win the GP Samyn
In an exciting final, team Qhubeka-Assos was particularly eager in the tactical game, Deceuninck-Quick Step and especially Cavendish chasinf each break down, with team mate Florian Sénéchal tried to play the ideal lightning rod on the last cobblestone section, but he got watchdog Mathieu van der Poel along, just like a very strong Sep Vanmarcke (returned after a flat tire). Van der Poel paralyzed the escape attempt, also because he was hindered by a broken right brake. The game of poker turned out well for Alpecin-Fenix, because in a messy sprint Merlier had a very long and powerful effort in store. He remounted the surprising Rasmus Tiller and made the victory gesture. Rory Townsend (Canyon) finished in a big group in 73rd, 5 minuted down to the winner Tim Merlier.
