The opening time trial of the Tour de Feminin was won by Czech Julia Kopecká.
Young riders from the Belgian team occupied the top five positions in the time trial. Czech Julia Kopecká won by seven seconds ahead of Dutch rider Maid Rijnbeek and sixteen seconds ahead of Belgian Lore de Schepper.
"I couldn't be happier. The whole team is working really well. The coming days will be exciting," said a breathless Julia after the demanding finish.
Kopecká became the first Czech stage winner since Martina Sáblíková's triumph in the time trial ten years ago. For Saturday's second stage, she will also wear the yellow leader's jersey, a feat last achieved by a Czech rider, Lada Kozlíková, in 2006.
"It has shown that we are a strong team," added Kopecká, who last year took bronze in the time trial and secured two second places in other stages, finishing fourth overall.
Nikola Bajgerová also performed very well. The twenty-seven-year-old Czech, riding for the Polish team Mat Atom Deweloper, achieved her best time trial result at the Tour de Feminin, finishing in 15th place in her eighth participation. "I ride very well in the team, and I would like to reach the podium here at least once," she said with a smile.
A total of 139 riders, including 24 Czechs, started in the first stage. Among them was Czech veteran Jarmila Machačová. The world champion in the points race on the track in 2013, in her 11th participation in the race, finished in 57th position in the opening time trial.
