Lotte Kopecky beat Letizia Paternoster to the finish line in the dramatic conclusion of the first day of the Women's Tour of Britain in Llandudno.
Paternoster mistakenly celebrated victory only for a photo-finish to reveal Kopecky won stage one on the promenade.
The final duel was the thrilling climax of a race involving a breakaway of nine riders, highlighted by Lizzie Deignan and Anna Henderson of the Great Britain Cycling team.
Lotte Kopecky of team SD-Worx - Protim wins stage one of the Lloyds Bank Women Tour of Britain 2024 from Welshpool to Llandudno. Picture date: Thursday June 6, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story CYCLING Womens Tour. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA
This group carved out a lead of more than two minutes on the Ty'n y Llidiart climb, leaving them to contest the finale.
After Henderson broke away in the final kilometre, Kopecky seized the moment and surged to the finish line, clinching victory by a matter of millimetres.
Lizzie Deignan of team Great Britain on the podium wearing the Queen of the Mountains jersey after stage one of the Lloyds Bank Women Tour of Britain 2024 from Welshpool to Llandudno. Picture date: Thursday June 6, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story CYCLING
The reigning British national champion, Pfeiffer Georgi, finished third, while Deignan secured the fourth spot.
The excitement started at Welshpool’s Broad Street which marked the adventurous first day covering 2,276m of climbing.
The round concluded on Llandudno’s iconic seafront with the riders arriving around 3.10pm.
Lotte Kopecky of team SD-Worx - Protim on the podium in the Race Leader jersey after winning stage one of the Lloyds Bank Women Tour of Britain 2024 from Welshpool to Llandudno. Picture date: Thursday June 6, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story CYCLING Womens
The Women's Tour of Britain competition continues tomorrow, with the second stage both starting and ending in Wrexham’s city centre.
The route comprises several locales in Denbighshire, West Cheshire and Chester.
The thrilling cycling event, pitting national riders against international competitors, spans four days and concludes on June 9.
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