Lotte Kopecká Wins 2026 Milan-San Remo Donne

Belgian cyclist Lotte Kopecká emerged victorious in the 2026 Milan-San Remo Donne, a 156km race from Genoa to San Remo. This win marks a significant achievement for Kopecká, following her support role in teammate Lorena Wiebes’ triumph last year.

Race Highlights

Kopecká secured her win in a small group sprint, successfully responding to a crucial attack by Dutch rider Puck Pieterse on the Poggio climb. A leading group of five cyclists ultimately broke away from the peloton, contesting the finish.

In the sprint finish, Kopecká defeated Swiss cyclist Noemi Rüeggová (EF Education-Oatly), who finished one position lower in the previous year’s race. Italian Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini completed the podium, benefiting from the efforts of her teammate Dominika Wlodarczyková. Pieterse finished in fourth place.

Kopecká’s Reaction

“It’s amazing. I had the full support of my team today and I felt particularly confident after winning the Nokere Koerse Classic on Wednesday. I’m happy that I was able to react to Puck’s attack and in the final I started the sprint at the perfect moment,” Kopecká stated after the race. She also expressed concern for the well-being of all cyclists involved, referencing a significant crash that occurred 19 kilometers before the finish line.

Race Incident and Injury

A serious crash occurred during the descent from the Cipressa climb, involving several riders. Lieke Nooijenová fell while attacking, initiating a chain reaction that also brought down Katarzyna Niewiadom and others. Margaux Vigiéová and Debora Silvestriová were thrown over the barriers.

Debora Silvestriová (LABORALKutxa) sustained injuries and was transported to the hospital for examinations. Eurosport commentator Petr Nejedlý expressed deep concern for Silvestriová’s condition, stating, “I would really like to grasp that the rider LABORALKutxa is okay. I am very worried about her. It was terrible.” The Spanish team later confirmed that Silvestriová was conscious.

A similar incident occurred in the 2025 race, where Slovak cyclist Martin Svrček suffered multiple fractures, including a broken collarbone, shoulder blade, and ribs, during a descent from Cipressa.

Results

• Winner: Lotte Kopecká (Belgium)
• Second Place: Noemi Rüeggová (Switzerland, EF Education-Oatly)
• Third Place: Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini (Italy)
• Fourth Place: Puck Pieterse (Netherlands)