Belgian rider Lotte Kopecky won the Women's Tour of Flanders on Sunday to retain her title, thanks to a long solo break on the 154-kilometer route.

The 27-year-old, who rides for SD Worx, crossed the line in Oudenaarde after 4 hours 6 minutes 11 seconds, some 36 seconds ahead of a six-way sprint for second place, won by Dutch rider Demi Vollering.

Kopecky is the second woman to win back-to-back titles and only the fourth to win it twice.

"It's amazing how we raced as a team," Kopecky said. "What a wonderful season."

Kopecky won by dropping her final follower Silvia Perisco with 13 kilometers to go, producing a relentless acceleration on the steep Kruisberg climb.

On a cold day on the Flemish plains, snoods, gloves and windbreaker jackets were the order of the day for both the riders and the estimated 750,000 fans who lined the route.

The final 45 kilometers of this 19th women's edition of a race, known locally as 'La Ronde,' and considered an unofficial world championship, is the same route, albeit shorter by 100 kilometers, as the men's.

The chasing group failed to form an alliance, as Kopecky pedaled hard until she had a lead of 46 seconds going into the final kilometer.