It’s virtually over, however not fairly. After challenges on the monitor, street and gravel this yr stretching all the way in which again to early February, Lotte Kopecky faces one last spherical of racing within the Track World Championships this week, however the Belgian star has promised that she is not going to be overdoing issues.
Kopecky was one of many prime performers within the multi-discipline 2023 Cycling World Championships throughout the board, not solely securing street race gold but additionally netting victories within the elimination and factors races in addition to a bronze within the Omnium on the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow.
Be it driving for her SD Worx-Protime commerce crew or for Belgium, Kopecky has loved a wonderful 2024 season, too. Purely to concentrate on the autumn, the 28-year-old has captured triumphs within the World Championships street race, the European Championships time trial, the Tour de Romandie and – simply final week – the Simac Ladies Tour. On prime of that, she not too long ago clinched silver within the Gravel World Championships as properly.
As for flying to Denmark to be one of many 355 athletes from 40 nations collaborating on this yr’s World Track Championships, Kopecky instructed Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws that she is ok with the concept of stretching out her season a bit of longer. But as soon as Sunday comes round, she’ll be executed with 2024 and racing for positive.
“One week remains to be doable and it’s my very own alternative. The elimination and factors race are additionally the 2 occasions I like doing probably the most,” she instructed HLN on receiving her fifth Kristallen Fiets prize as the highest Belgian racer of the yr this week.
“Adding the Omnium would have been an excessive amount of of an excellent factor. The Belgian Federation agrees with my alternative. Whatever occurs in Copenhagen, it received’t make my season any higher, however I wish to give it an opportunity and finish this wonderful yr in fashion.”
With some understatement, Kopecky added that she felt prefer it had been a protracted season, and that though it was powerful to change off, she knew that point away from the bike was now urgently wanted.
“The most essential factor is to do issues that don’t contain biking, though, in actuality, that’s more durable than it appears: subconsciously, I’m so targeted on my profession in the mean time that I usually take into consideration the following factor instantly and don’t wish to throw away all of the work I’ve executed,” she instructed the newspaper.
“But the previous three seasons have been very intense and lengthy. It’s time for a severe break and to let my physique absolutely get well, each bodily and mentally. After the World Track Cycling Championships, I’m actually going to take a break, I promise.”
It’s symptomatic of her ambitions although, that Kopecky is already getting her head round what she desires to realize in 2025. As she identified, she has twice taken a runners-up spot in a Grand Tour in her profession, as soon as within the Giro d’Italia and as soon as within the Tour de France, on each events with none particular preparation.
“A classification in a grand tour is secretly in my head, however additionally it is a leap into the unknown. Let’s first begin by attempting to take the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège subsequent spring. Those are two nice Classics that I wish to tick off.”
As for her fifth Kristallen Fiets trophy, she had not but determined the place to maintain it. So far, she mentioned, one was at her grandfather’s home, one other one was stored by her father and two had been in her attic.
“Don’t get me mistaken, it is not that I wish to cover these stunning trophies, I simply do not desire a front room stuffed with racing memorabilia,” she mentioned.
“I wish to come dwelling to a home with a standard residing area, with baskets for my canine and a scratching publish for my cat.”