'I would do exactly the same' – Kopecky reacts to Vuelta sprint relegation and yellow card

Lotte Kopecky was a favourite for stage 2 of La Vuelta Femenina after coming second to Noemi Rüegg on the opening day, but the finale in San Cibrao dan Viñas went pear-shaped long before the line. Kopecky was relegated, fined 500CHF and given a yellow card not long after the stage for a line deviation. "If I start a sprint tomorrow. I would do exactly the same," Kopecky wrote on Instagram. "I got a great leadout from Anna [van der Breggen], start my sprint so I take my line, not Anna’s. So YES, I have to go off my original line. At that moment no one was next to me yet." In images now extensively litigated on social media, Kopecky can be see veering to the left on the uphill kick to the line and coming into contact with eventual stage-winner – and Kopecky's Madison partner – Shari Bossuyt, while Kopecky seems simultaneously to lose traction on the pedals, apparently due to an unintentional shift to the small chainring. The former world champion initially finished 15th, but was later relegated to the back of her group which put her 36th. After later reviewing the footage herself, Kopecky was thoroughly disgruntled about the decision. "After watching the video I really want to say Shari did not do anything wrong. So absolutely congrats to her! I don’t agree with the decision of the jury. But that’s another discussion all together. No further comment."