UCI Women’s WorldTour: stars bud with the spring

Two dominant victories!

Trek-Segafredo’s Elisa Longo Borghini and SD Worx’ Lotte Kopecky took two dominant victories in the UAE Tour and the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, showing that the powerhouses of the UCI Women’s WorldTour are ready to take on the challenges of the European spring.

The UCI Women’s WorldTour explores new horizons and simultaneously keeps striding in familiar environments. It also has irrepressible champions, ready to strive when the challenges become more demanding and the stakes get higher. After racing in Australia in January, February was marked by the first women’s edition of the UAE Tour, dominated by Elisa Longo Borghini and her Trek-Segafredo partners, and the iconic Belgian opener that is the Omloop Het Nieuwsbald, where SD Worx claimed a 1-2 triumph with Lotte Kopecky and Lorena Wiebes.

United Emirates of Italy

For their first event in the Emirati desert, the peloton of the UCI Women’s WorldTour were eager to make the most of the area’s unique conditions. The first two stages, leading to Dubai Harbour and Al Mirfa, were highly animated, with aggressive racing in the crosswinds causing the peloton to explode into several echelons. The pace was relentless and the finishes delivered high levels of adrenaline, shaping a new sprinting duel that looks set to captivate the fans for months and years to come.

A new star for SD Worx after two-and-a-half years of countless successes with Team DSM, Lorena Wiebes wanted to quickly show her worth spearheading the Dutch squad. But in her debut race, she faced her former teammate Charlotte Kool, set to take over the fast finales for DSM…

Indeed, Kool got the better of Wiebes in their first duel. The roles were reversed the next day, with the more seasoned of the two young Dutch sprinters (both 23 years old) powering to her first victory with SD Worx. The 4th and final stage offered the opportunity to settle this first battle of the season. Wiebes opened up the sprint but she couldn’t hold it to the line in Abu Dhabi. 2-1 for Kool, with UAE Team ADQ’s Chiara Consonni sneaking between the two to take 2nd in front of Wiebes.

However, it was stage 3 that was decisive for the overall battle, and it ended with a 1-2 for Trek-Segafredo, atop Jebel Hafeet, after a relentless day of action. The stage opened up early on the flat, with more echelons. Then Elisa Longo Borghini and Gaia Realini partnered up to destroy the competition and create huge gaps at the summit.

Longo Borghini, winner of last year’s Paris-Roubaix, again showed the extreme versatility of her talents as she raised her arms alongside her young compatriot and teammate. Another Italian, UAE Team ADQ’s Silvia Persico came 3rd, trailing by 1’11’’. The three same riders stood on the final overall podium, and in the same order.

Change of continent and conditions

Returning to the narrower and more technically challenging roads of Europe, the peloton dynamics changed instantly. Team SD Worx sent a resounding answer, with Lorena Wiebes in the mix again… but 2nd again. The UCI Women’s WorldTour kicked off its Classics campaign in Belgium, with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad leading the riders from Ghent to Ninove over Flandrian cobblestones and muurs. The perfect terrain for strong riders and teams to show how prepared they are for the European spring.

Cuba’s Arlenis Sierra (Movistar Team Women) was leading the way when the peloton faced the decisive ascent of the Muur van Geraardsbergen. On these infamous slopes, there was no containing the tactical and bike handling savvy of Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx), winner of 2022’s Ronde van Vlaanderen.

Participating in her first road race of the season after she shone on the track at the UEC European Championships, the Belgian star (also road race silver medallist at last year’s UCI Road World Championships) immediately powered to her first victory of the season. Behind her, Lorena Wiebes surfed the wheels of SD Worx’ rivals and eventually sprinted to 2nd, ahead of Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ), 2007 UCI World Champion who is getting ready to retire from road cycling this year.

“The arrival of Lorena Wiebes allows me to race more freely,” Kopecky said before heading to Italy, to defend her 2022 victory at Strade Bianche (4 March). With her teammates, they will also be strong favourites in the upcoming Classics such as Miron Ronde van Drenthe (11 March), Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio (19 March), Classic Brugge-De Panne (March 23, Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields (26 March), Ronde van Vlaanderen – Tour des Flandres (2 April)… But Kopecky says she mostly has her eyes on Paris-Roubaix Femmes this year.

Her rivals are warned!