Immediately after the rouge of fire, the fifth stage of the Simac Ladies Tour came to an abrupt end for the five riders vying for a good position for a sprint finish when world champions Lotte Kopecky (SD Works-Protime) and Charlotte Kuhl (DSM-Firmenich Post NL) collided and both riders were sent flying. This was an abrupt end to the race for the five riders who had been jockeying for position in the sprint finish.

Marte Trujen (Phoenix-Deceuninck), who was riding next to Kopecký, lost his balance and hit a parked car on the side of the road, causing himself to fall. Carline Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ) braked and steered to avoid a cool, but lightly hit the hood of the same car.

Annina Ahtzalo (Uno-X Mobility) was taken off the front wheel by Truyen's rear wheel and the Finnish champion Truyen also fell to the ground. Truyen's teammate Julie de Wilde braked hard to avoid Kool's bike, and then dismounted from the bike while still upright.

Silje Bader (DSM-Filmenig Post NL), Ronneke Uneken (SD Worx-Protime), and Susanne Andersen (Uno-X Mobility) also stopped to help their fallen teammate.

Because the fall occurred in the last 3km, the time difference was nullified and all riders were tied with stage winner Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime).

However, Dutch sprinter Kool was unable to finish the race due to injury and had to abandon. For Charlotte, “I didn't want to end the season this way, but we were able to look back on a special moment together. Let's heal the injury and come back next year,” DSM-Firmenich PostNL said on Twitter after the race.

Kopecký managed to finish the stage after a brief medical check, but he had major abrasions on his left shoulder and lower back and underwent a thorough examination after the race.

“A day of mixed emotions. Lorena Wiebes won her fourth straight SD Works-Pro Time at the Simac Ladies Tour, while Lotte Kopecky was involved in a hard fall. However, Lotte Kopecky was involved in a violent crash. After the race, SD Volks-Pro Time posted on Twitter.

A subsequent post revealed that the world champion had no broken bones, and SD Volks Pro Time announced this morning that Kopecky would start the final stage and fight for the overall win.

“Lotte Kopecky has no broken bones from the Simac Ladies Tour crash. Kopecký crashed heavily on stage 5. However, the world champion was able to reach the finish line under her own power.

“Examination did not reveal any symptoms or complaints consistent with concussion. Kopecky suffered some abrasions in addition to some bruising.”

Swinkels, Trujen, and de Vilde suffered minor injuries, and the team admitted to Cycling News that they were not injured.

Ahtzalo suffered a bruised hip but escaped serious injury.

“We will monitor her overnight and do a health check before the stage tomorrow, but at this point it looks like she will be able to compete in the final stage tomorrow,” Alex Greenfield, Uno X Mobility's sport director, told Cycling News.