'I hope next time the UCI takes care a bit more of our safety' - Lorena Wiebes criticises Copenhagen Sprint course lay-out

"I'm a bit annoyed that the UCI is putting things different with the handlebars and not really thinking about our safety," Wiebes said after her win. "Sometimes it was dangerous with nobody signing out the middle islands."

A significant crash on the final lap split the peloton, though Wiebes was positioned safely ahead of the incident. The crash wasn't the only one to affect the race outcome, as her team lost key lead-out rider Blanka Vas in an earlier incident.

"We lost one of our important teammates, Blanka Vas. She was part of the lead-out, so we needed to adjust a bit," Wiebes explained.

Despite the setback, Wiebes' team adapted their sprint strategy effectively. Barbara Guarischi delivered what Wiebes called "a really, really strong lead-out" that placed her in perfect position for the final sprint.

"I started a bit early, but it was better than going too late," said Wiebes, who crossed the line with a comfortable margin over her competitors.

The race drew substantial crowds throughout the course, which Wiebes acknowledged as a positive aspect of the event. "The crowds are amazing here. In every town there were so many people cheering for us," she said.

Wiebes remains the dominant sprinter in women's cycling this season, with this victory further cementing her status as the rider to beat in bunch finishes.

While celebrating her win, Wiebes concluded with a plea to cycling's governing body: "I hope next time the UCI takes care a bit more of our safety."

On Friday, the UCI confirmed that it plans to enforce equipment regulation changes from January 2026, including minimum handlebar width requirements and maximum wheel rim heights, as part of a safety initiative.

The move to impose a minimum handlebar width of 400mm has been criticised by The Cyclists’ Alliance. “It puts riders at risk,” read a statement from the union. “Female cyclists face the greatest impact from this arbitrary restriction on minimum handlebar width.”