'She was the Plan A' – Defending champion Lorena Wiebes happy to play team role for SD Worx-Protime as Lotte Kopecky wins Milan-San Remo Women

Lotte Kopecky secured a dominant victory at the inaugural Milan-San Remo Women, extending SD Worx-Protime's stranglehold on the monument. Crucially, defending champion Lorena Wiebes, initially touted as a co-leader, played a selfless team role, launching a late attack to set up Kopecky's winning move before finishing sixth herself. This strategic execution saw the Dutch squad retain the coveted title, with Kopecky crossing the line solo after a decisive acceleration on the Poggio.

This result underscores SD Worx-Protime's tactical superiority and depth, even when facing the internal challenge of managing multiple champions. Wiebes, a pure sprinter, understood the Poggio's demands favoured Kopecky, a stronger climber and classics rider. Her willingness to sacrifice personal glory for team success highlights the evolving dynamics within top-tier women's cycling, where collective strength often trumps individual ambition, particularly in the monuments.

Ultimately, SD Worx-Protime simply confirmed what many already suspected: they possess the deepest roster and the sharpest tactical mind in the peloton. The rest are merely playing for second.