National Championships 2021 – Belgium – Road Race [FULL RACE] (ladies) (flemish)

June 20, 2021

National Championships 2021 – Belgium WE – Waregem – Waregem : 122,4 km

The Belgian National Road Race Championship is a cycling race which decides who will become Belgian national champion for the year to come. The winners of each event are awarded with a symbolic cycling jersey, which is black, yellow and red, like the national flag. These colours can be worn by the rider at other road racing events to show their status as national champion. The champion’s stripes can be combined into a sponsored rider’s team kit design for this purpose.

Lotte Kopecky (Liv Racing) prolonged her Belgian title with a solo ride to the victory in Waregem after attacking 8km from the finish.

Julie Van de Velde (Jumbo-Visma) grabbed the silver medal with a late solo effort. Alana Castrique (Lotto Soudal) won the peloton sprint for the bronze medal at 20 seconds behind Kopecky.

Just like last year, Kopecky was able to claim the double at the Belgian National Championships with the victory in the time trial and the road race.

“I hoped for it but it was quite the task to actually do it. I didn’t feel good in the first hours of the race and hoped I would get better. I didn’t mix in with the attacks, realizing that I would have to go all in with a late attack. I timed it well,” Kopecky told Sporza in the post-race interview.

She’s taking over the role of leading lady in Belgian women’s cycling, with Jolien D’hoore soon waving the sport goodbye. Kopecky remained humble, however.

“Well, I’m sure there’s other women doing great things in other disciplines,” Kopecky said.

The race was decided at the Holstraat climb, the backside of the more famous cobbled Nokereberg climb, just under 10km from the finish. A long solo attempt from Ann-Sophie Duyck came to an end when Shari Bossuyt (NXTG) blasted by with only nine riders chasing her down.

“The plan was to set the pace on the first part of the climb up the Holstraat with me going full gas on the second part,” Kopecky said. “I realized that Jolien was very strong. In the final lap the pace was high because Shari Bossuyt was up the road and Jolien had to spend some energy. I saw she was going through a difficult moment. I told myself to keep calm until we reached the top and then go all in.”

None of the nine chasers was able to join the move and Kopecky quickly collected a bonus of 13s. A second group of eleven riders bridged up with the chase group but Kopecky kept increasing her lead.

“I didn’t know how far behind they were. With 3km to go I saw the gap was half a minute and then I knew it was in the pocket,” Kopecky said.

When asked why she didn’t bank on her sprint, Kopecky explained she felt that a solo move had a bigger chance of success.

“No, I wasn’t confident that I would win the sprint so I tried to see what the better options were to get the title. It was the best decision.”

Just before the final kilometre, Julie Van de Velde jumped away from the peloton. The 28 year-old rode a strong race but was unable to respond to Kopecky’s move. She did manage to keep the peloton at distance and capture a well-deserved second place.

Castrique won the peloton sprint and was delighted with the resulting third place, lifting her arms in the air. Shari Bossuyt was fourth, Nathalie Bex fifth and Jolien D’hoore concluded her final Belgian championship race on the road with a sixth place.

Young Julie De Wilde was seventh ahead of Marion Norbert-Riberolle, who recently swapped the French nationality for a Belgian passport. Valerie Demey worked hard for Lotte Kopecky in the build-up to the final climb and she still managed to get a top-10 result for herself, finishing just ahead of Kiona Crabbé.

Results :
1 Lotte Kopecky (Bel) Liv Racing 3:07:55
2 Julie Van De Velde (Bel) Jumbo-Visma Women Team 0:00:14
3 Alana Castrique (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies 0:00:19
4 Shari Bossuyt (Bel) NXTG Racing
5 Nathalie Bex (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
6 Jolien D’Hoore (Bel) Team SD Worx
7 Julie De Wilde (Bel) Plantur-Pura
8 Marion Norbert-Riberolle (Bel)
9 Valerie Demey (Bel) Liv Racing
10 Kiona Crabbé (Bel) Plantur-Pura
11 Ellen van Loy (Bel)
12 Naomi De Roeck (Bel) LVIV Cycling Team
13 Kelly Van Den Steen (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
14 Lien Lanssens (Bel)
15 Justine Ghekiere (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
16 Sanne Cant (Bel) Plantur-Pura
17 Nathalie Verschelden (Bel)
18 Lone Meertens (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
19 Karen Verhestraeten (Bel) Plantur-Pura
20 Sara Van De Vel (Bel) Team Rupelcleaning-Champion Lubricants 0:00:22
21 Kim de Baat (Bel) 0:00:42
22 Mieke Docx (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
23 Marthe Truyen (Bel) Plantur-Pura
24 Jesse Vandenbulcke (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
25 Fien Delbaere (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
26 Kelly Druyts (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
27 Saartje Vandenbroucke (Bel)
28 Esmee Gielkens (Bel)
29 Fiona Mertens (Bel)
30 Ann-Sophie Duyck (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
31 Lotte Claes (Bel)
32 Britt Knaven (Bel) NXTG Racing
33 Suzanne Verhoeven (Bel)
34 Marijke De Smedt (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
35 Jinse Peeters (Bel) Plantur-Pura 0:01:15
36 Lenny Druyts (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire 0:02:34
37 Jade Lenaers (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team 0:03:19
38 Elise Vander Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies 0:03:32
39 Ellen Feytens (Bel)
40 Sandrine Tas (Bel)
41 Katrijn de Clercq (Bel)
42 Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel)
43 Laura van Geyt (Bel)
44 Fenna Vanhoutte (Bel)
45 Justine Vromanne (Bel)
46 Gloria Van Mechelen (Bel) LVIV Cycling Team
47 Valerie Jenaer (Bel)
48 Audrey de Keersmaeker (Bel)
49 Isabelle Beckers (Bel) Team Rupelcleaning-Champion Lubricants
50 Luca de Langhe (Bel)
51 Femke van Goethem (Bel)
52 Caren Commissaris (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
53 Hanna Theys (Bel)
54 Demmy Druyts (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
55 Julie Brouwers (Bel)
56 Sarah Borremans (Bel) LVIV Cycling Team
57 Amber Lacompte (Bel) Team Rupelcleaning-Champion Lubricants
58 Jana Dobbelaere (Bel)
59 Alyssa Lurquin (Bel)
60 Maxime Roes (Bel)
61 Lensy Debboudt (Bel)
62 Brenda Goessens (Bel)
63 Glacia Dhont (Bel)
64 Katie van Geyte (Bel)
65 Kelly Decaluwe (Bel)
66 Nele van Baelen (Bel)
67 Justine Lescrauwaet (Bel)
68 Eefje Brandt (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
69 Kim Knaeps (Bel)
70 Maurine Ricour (Bel) 0:03:38
71 Dina Scavone (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team 0:03:42
72 Laura Verdonschot (Bel)
73 Fien Van Eynde (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
74 Meg de Bruyne (Bel) 0:04:00
75 Lara Defour (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team 0:04:01
76 Bonnie Delanote (Bel)
77 D’ HONDT Silke 0:05:55
78 Yasmine de Wulf (Bel) 0:07:09
79 Silke Janssens (Bel)
80 Shana Maes (Bel)
81 Chayenne Vranken (Bel) 0:07:17
82 Evy Roelen (Bel)
83 Marie Vandecasteele (Bel)
84 Tessa Zwaenepoel (Bel)
85 Allison Zava (Bel)
86 Marjolijn Boerjan (Bel)
87 Isabel Vandewalle (Bel)
88 Sarah ten Hartog (Bel)
89 Laura Charlier (Bel)
90 Lies de Vleminck (Bel)
91 Fleur Vandecaveye (Bel)
92 Aiko Uyttenhove (Bel)
93 Jasmien de Boeck (Bel)
94 Evelien Debboudt (Bel)
95 Carolien Haers (Bel)
96 Fien De Wispelaere (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
97 Julie Debock (Bel)
98 Naika Deneef (Bel) 0:07:22
DNF Loes Sels (Bel)
DNF Marjolein Moreau (Bel)
DNF Britt Verbeek (Bel)
DNF Camille Delestrait (Bel)
DNF Elena Debouck (Bel)
DNF Lauren Devos (Bel)
DNF Ditte Lenseclaes (Bel) Team Rupelcleaning-Champion Lubricants
DNF Mieke Leeman (Bel)
DNF Fanny van Driessche (Bel)
DNF Anka Hermans (Bel)
DNF Steffi Verdickt (Bel)
DNF Charlotte Pennynck (Bel)
DNF Margot Bourguignon (Bel)
DNF Noémi van der Borcht (Bel)
DNF Machalina Dereere (Bel)
DNF Astrid Heggerick (Bel)
DNF Florelien van de Velde (Bel)
DNF Febe Schokkaert (Bel)
DNF Jessy Derder (Bel)
DNF Malou van Hooste (Bel)
DNF Tinne Vermeiren (Bel)
DNF Tara Gins (Bel)
DNF D´HAUWE Silke
DNF Emily de Cuyper (Bel)
DNF Paquita Derie (Bel)
DNF Fauve Bastiaenssen (Bel)
DNF Lotte Popelier (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
DNF Erin Hoefkens (Bel)
DNF BLONDÉ Stephanie
DNF Kato Aerts (Bel)
DNF An Wellens (Bel)
DNF Anthea Vansteenkiste (Bel)
DNF Nicky Apers (Bel)
DNF Stephanie Kemps (Bel)
DNF Eve Didier (Bel)
DNF Marie Maes (Bel)
DNF Francine Delain (Bel)
DNF Xena van Hecke (Bel)
DNF Sophie Brouckaert (Bel)
DNF Sandrine Derwaux (Bel)
DNF Joyce Accoe (Bel)
DNF Liliane Leenknegt (Bel)
DNF Herlinde Coudeville (Bel)
DNF Tine Rombouts (Bel)
DNF Fiebe Vanheule (Bel)
DNF Maelle Michotte (Bel)
DNF Amber Aernouts (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
DNF Liena Vanderheyden (Bel)
DNF Anse Debaere (Bel)
DNF Ines Malfait (Bel)
DNF Deisy Schaele (Bel)
DNF Perrine Sadoine (Bel)
DNF Anne-Sophie Lens (Bel)