Reigning world champion Lotte Kopecky has made some drastic adjustments to her season targets that may see her take a slower build-up forward of the late-Spring Classics after which a transparent concentrate on attempting to win the Tour de France Femmes.
SD Worx-Protime might have misplaced their former Tour champion, Demi Vollering, in a highly-publicised switch to rival workforce FDJ-SUEZ. Still, the highly effective Dutch squad could have a brand new card to play with the return of one of many sport’s all-time greats, Anna van der Breggen, who’s dedicated to supporting Kopecky in her Grand Tour ambitions.
“I just like the Classics, that’s for positive. But I got here second, twice, within the Grand Tours with out actually having any correct, or particular, preparation for them. Of course, I’m curious to see how far I can go – so we’ll make it a purpose,” Kopecky instructed the media, together with Cyclingnews in a press occasion forward of the SD Worx-Protime workforce presentation in January.
Kopecky has grown as one of many prime contenders within the Grand Tours. She completed second general on the 2023 Tour de France Femmes, behind her then-teammate Vollering, and second general on the Giro d’Italia final 12 months, proving that she may climb with the very best on the enduring slopes of the Col du Tourmalet and Blockhaus, respectively.
“I’ll end the Classics season and I’ll attempt to have the absolute best preparation for the Tour de France,” Kopecky stated.
She is likely one of the most well-rounded cyclists of her technology, having secured six world titles on the observe, two highway race world titles in Glasgow and Zurich and victories at Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders.
She lately stated that she would “by no means hand over the Spring Classics for the GC,” and she or he holds true to her phrase, confirming that she’s going to begin her season at Milan-San Remo on March 23 earlier than competing within the conventional WorldTour one-day races in spring after which turning her consideration to the mountains in France.
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Asked if she felt she may lose a few of her explosiveness by coaching for the Tour de France, Kopecky stated she believes she will do each on the highest stage.
“It will depend on how we prepare. I feel I’ve been in a position to handle it effectively … to maintain these elements balanced between being explosive and climbing effectively. Maybe I’ll attempt to climb higher and may change into rather less explosive, however I’ll nonetheless be one of many extra explosive riders within the bunch, so I do not see any drawback with this,” she stated.
Now with out Vollering, SD Worx-Protime will doubtless enter the Tour with out the favorite as they’ve the previous two editions. The Dutch rider received the Tour in 2023 and completed second general final 12 months behind Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) after dropping time resulting from a crash.
Vollering and Kopecky’s relationship soured in the direction of the tip of the season with one set to go away the Dutch workforce and the opposite staying on because the chief. Asked how she feels about racing towards Vollering as a principal rival this season, Kopecky admitted it may really feel unusual.
“It shall be completely different, however I feel it is vital to concentrate on ourselves. There is greater than Demi Vollering within the peloton, so we is not going to attempt to focus an excessive amount of on her,” Kopecky stated.
SD Worx-Protime’s roster has undergone a number of adjustments, with six outgoing rider transfers and eight new signings, together with Van der Breggen. The former World Champion and Olympic gold medallist admitted that she is not positive what to anticipate in her highly-anticipated comeback to skilled racing since retiring from the game on the peak of her profession three years in the past.
She will start her season with a concentrate on the Ardennes Classics -Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège – and wish to compete on the Giro d’Italia, after which her first Tour de France Femmes.
Van der Breggen stated she hopes to be a contender on the Tour de France in future editions however confirmed that her position this 12 months shall be to assist Kopecky in her GC ambitions and maybe play a extra wildcard position relying on her kind.
“If all goes effectively and it is a good course, then I will not say I do not need it [the GC]. But for subsequent 12 months, for positive, it is not my purpose. It’s simply coming again and seeing the place I’m,” Van der Breggen stated. “If Lotte will concentrate on the Tour de France, for instance, I may help at these sorts of races.”
Kopecky stated she was initially shocked by Van der Breggen’s determination to return to racing but in addition understands “… she remains to be in a position to have a pleasant extension to her profession.”
Kopecky additionally stated that if she shared management with Van der Breggen on the Tour de France, they’d work collectively effectively.
“Anna and I do very effectively collectively. I hope we are able to have clean racing collectively. We will see the way it goes, however I’m optimistic about it.”
Kopecky has received lots of the largest races on the calendar however stated two victories are lacking on her palmares that may make her really feel like a whole rider. “The reply is the Tour. And if I keep extra to the form of rider that I’m, then I’d say Liège.”