After a post-spring classics reset, Lotte Kopecky and Lorena Wiebes are back with a bang.
The duo returned to racing Thursday at the Vuelta a Burgos Feminas, launching SD Worx-Protime’s next chapter of the season to peak for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift this summer.
The reigning world champion and European champion headline a stacked lineup for the Dutch juggernaut, which is out to prove it’s still the team to beat in the Women’s WorldTour.
After a dominant spring that saw both riders claim big wins, Kopecky opted for a training block instead of racing the La Vuelta Femenina this month, while Wiebes also hit pause to restart her sprint engine.
Now, both are back and they’re making noise. Wiebes blasted to victory in stage 1 with Kopecky close behind in third, sending a warning shot to rivals.
“We’re going into it freely and will try to make the most of it,” Kopecky said. “Every race matters now.”
Kopecky returns to Burgos but yellow is on her mind
After a successful but turbulent spring, when the world champion revealed that pressure and expectations were being unfairly cast upon her, Kopecky is raring to race.
Fresh off a training block in Spain, the world champion is aiming to hit her peak at the Tour de France Femmes and a tilt for overall victory.
Thursday was only her ninth day of racing in 2025 and she’s not racing the Giro d’Italia Women in July, where she was second overall last year.
“I am very eager to race again,” Kopecky said. “I finished the spring with a relatively positive and fresh feeling. That fresh feeling was because I haven’t raced as much this season.
“I took a week to let everything sink in mentally and then I immediately jumped back on the bike,” she said. “I have been in Spain for a week now, where I had a good training camp.”
Vuelta a Burgos Feminas – stage 2
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lorena Wiebes
⭐️⭐️ Elisa Balsamo, Chiara Consonni, Ally Wollaston
⭐️ Mia Griffin, Lotte Kopecky, Ruby Roseman-Gannon, Kathrin Schweinberger, Linda Zanetti
❓ Millie Couzens#VueltaBurgos pic.twitter.com/BqzfLoZKjK— Xander (@xanderjaques) May 23, 2025
The four-day Spanish race offers a versatile mix of terrain and will provide a sounding board ahead of July, with a summit finale Saturday at Picón Blanco and a time trial Sunday to decide the overall.
Also read: Kopecky slaps back at critics
Arch-rival and former teammate Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) isn’t here to defend her title, who left Spain with wins at both La Vuelta Femenina and Itzulia Women.
For Kopecky, a solid week of racing will put her on track for a showdown at the Tour.
“In the run-up to the Tour de France Femmes, there are actually not that many races, so I like to take every opportunity that presents itself,” Kopecky said. “In view of the Tour de France Femmes, I can use good training work anyway. So I will go all out in the time trial anyway and then we’ll see where the ship runs aground. I’m really looking forward to starting the second part of the season.”
Wiebes bangs back into the winner’s circle
If Kopecky is playing the long game, Wiebes wasted no time hitting out for her first win since also taking a break.
In her first road win since Gent-Wevelgem — she also won a gravel race in May signaling she’ll target the UCI gravel worlds later this year — Wiebes powered up a punishing uphill kicker to take stage 1 in brute force.
“This is a great start,” Wiebes said after the finish. “We were represented on all fronts. Marie Schreiber, Barbara Guarischi and Femke Markus controlled it perfectly in the beginning.”
Wow! Back to racing & immediately back to winning for @lorenawiebes
What a dazzling uphill sprint by the European champion! And a strong 3rd place for @LotteKopecky in the first stage of @VueltaBurgos!
@GettySport #wesparksuccess pic.twitter.com/Rr1Kzv5q5n
— Team SD Worx – Protime (@teamsdworx) May 22, 2025
With Kopecky and Wiebes both in the front group late, SD Worx had options against an all-star cast that includes Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) and Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek).
“In the last few hundred meters, with Lotte and I, we had two good cards to play,” Wiebes said. “It was tough all the way to the finish. Before the last corner, I thought I was locked in, but thanks to a move by Elisa Longo Borghini, space opened up. I followed her on the outside bend and then came alongside Elisa Balsamo. When I saw Balsamo get over Lotte, I also set up my sprint and it worked out well for the win.
“It’s nice to win straight away on my restart after the classics. When we were in that breakaway in front, it seemed my legs weren’t super. I had to come in the rhythm for a while,” said Wiebes, who kicked to her 101st pro win.
“But with this win on such a tricky final stretch, I get confirmation that I am still in good shape conditionally. Although that is no guarantee of success in the future, this is a nice start. This one is in the pocket.”
Van der Breggen back on the bike
Anna van der Breggen, who crashed out of Itzulia Women, confirmed that she’s on the comeback trail.
The superstar posted a note on social media indicating that she’s recovered from her injuries and is back on the bike training. No word yet on when she’ll return to racing.
Van der Breggen, 35, returned to racing this season after a four-year hiatus and hit out for her first pro win since her comeback with a stunning solo attack at the La Vuelta Femenina, where she was also third overall. She later crashed out in stage 2 at Itzulia Women.