“It’s not possible, it doesn’t exist.” Lotte Kopecky’s motto also remains valid for the 2024 cycling season, because Liège-Bastogne-Liège is on her program for the first time. “Winning with the rainbow jersey like Remco? I’d like to, but there are other races I’d rather win.”
The European Track Cycling Championships have just finished when Lotte Kopecky shifts her attention to the road season. During the presentation of the SD Worx-Protime team, the world champion raised the veil.
“Next week I’ll start my road season in the UAE Tour, a bit of a warm-up. From Omloop Het Nieuwsblad I’ll ride almost all spring, up to Liège-Bastogne-Liège.”
For Kopecky it will be the first participation in La Doyenne. “I think it’s a race that should be within my capabilities. Last year was also my first time at the Amstel Gold Race and it went well.” Kopecky finished 2nd after a good team effort with Demi Vollering.
Did the world champion need a new challenge? “Maybe so, although it’s not that it’s boring right now, it certainly isn’t.”
“These are races that were previously too hard for me and which are now starting to be within my reach. Two years ago I noticed at the Strade Bianche that the harder races were starting to suit me better.”
“Last year’s Tour also played a role in my confidence in my climbing abilities. I’m not saying I’ll win Liège right away, but it’s a competition where I can play a significant role.”
Year after year I start organizing one race after another. I would really like to have Paris-Roubaix on my list.
Lotte Kopecky
Remco Evenepoel won Liège-Bastogne-Liège last year wearing the rainbow jersey. Will Kopecky follow in his footsteps? “I would love to,” he laughs. “But I think there are other races I would rather win than Liège.”
Paris-Roubaix is still on Kopecky’s bucket list. “It’s definitely my dream race,” he admits. “Year after year I start doing one race after another. I would really like to have Paris-Roubaix on my list of successes.”
Kopecky doesn’t yet know how he will incorporate the Grand Tours and Olympic Games into his planning. “Now I try to focus mainly on the classics.”
“I still don’t know how I’ll feel at the end of April, so it seems a little pointless to have a comprehensive plan ready now.”
Kopecky is her own coach: “It’s up to me to put the right puzzle together”
Kopecky doesn’t have to worry about her schedule yet, because she works it out herself. “I’m my own coach, so I do most of the work myself,” she says.
“Obviously I sit down with the team to see which games we are aiming for. But then it is up to me to put the right puzzle together. So far it has gone well, so why should I change the situation?”
Kopecky isn’t afraid of making mistakes or over-training, for example. “I hit my head against the wall a few years ago, so I know how things can go wrong.”
“At the moment I feel my body well and I know when I can speed up and slow down. I think you have to listen to your body carefully. I’ve found a good balance.”
Expectations are high. But I want to shine as much as possible even with the rainbow jersey.
Lotte Kopecky
With the rainbow sweater on your shoulders the pressure is greater. “Expectations are high,” she agrees. “But I want to shine as much as possible even with the rainbow jersey.”
“I think it’s important not to panic if things go a little slower on opening weekend. I need to stay calm and have confidence in the work I’ve already done this winter.”
Even at the Games all eyes will be on the world champion. “My goal is a medal. Obviously I want the overall gold. I certainly won’t put that aside.”
“But at the Games it’s different than at the World Championships, where only the rainbow jersey counts. An Olympic medal is already nice at the Games.”
