Lotte Kopecky continues to be aiming to win three medals within the particular person time trial, street race, and Omnium on the Paris Olympic Games, which can be held from July 27 to August 11 regardless of having to get well from a COVID-19 an infection caught after the Giro d’Italia Women final week.
The Belgian all-rounder is the reigning World Champion within the street race and medallist within the Omnium and says her possibilities of securing gold medals are increased in these two occasions. However, she may also attempt her finest within the particular person time trial, which is able to kick off the biking occasions on Saturday.
“For me, too, [the time trial] is a query mark,” Kopecky advised Sporza. “I’ve labored on it very laborious. But I got here out of the Giro Donne with COVID. I feel I’m proof against it for some time now.
“I took it straightforward for a number of days. This weekend, my coaching in the course of the monitor camp went nicely, and my values had been good. I do not suppose that would be the drawback.”
Kopecky completed the 2023 season on the first-ever mixed UCI World Championships in Glasgow, successful three of the 4 world titles she pursued within the Elimination Race, Points Race, after which taking a hard-fought solo victory within the street race. She additionally earned a bronze medal within the Omnium.
She’s carried that success into this 12 months with a deal with the Spring Classics, the place she gained Paris-Roubaix, and the Giro d’Italia Women, the place she completed second general behind Elisa Longo Borghini. She additionally gained double street and time trial titles on the Belgian Championships.
She stated that she’d been coaching extra on her time trial bike this 12 months within the lead-up to the Games and questioned whether or not a gold or silver medal is perhaps out of attain in opposition to riders like reigning World Champion Chloé Dygert.
“I haven’t got a lot expertise on this half, however my type is sweet, and I’m giving the most effective of myself. I’ve to be optimistic,” Kopecky stated. “It is true that my chances are high better within the different occasions, I’ve extra references there.”
Kopecky stated that whereas she believes she has executed the whole lot she will to be in prime type forward of the Olympics, the time trial is an occasion the place she want to make extra enhancements.
Also see: Paris Olympics: Individual Time Trial begin occasions and Who will win the Paris Olympics particular person time trial? Analysing the favourites
“I’ve solely been engaged on it for a 12 months. My place has improved loads, the fabric and the clothes are good. I’ve executed the utmost for these Games, however there’s nonetheless room for enchancment,” Kopecky stated.
“I feel I’m prepared, and my type is sweet. If I get a medal on Saturday, that will be nice. If that does not work out, I do know that there can be days with barely increased possibilities.”
The ladies will compete in a 32.4km time trial that begins upstream from the Eiffel Tower at Invalides. The begin ramp is on the Esplanade, and the end is on the Pont Alexandre III. The route has twists and turns and is considerably technical, however it’s typically flat with a 5km ending straightaway
“It’s not tremendous technical, however the street floor isn’t in good situation in all places. You should be careful for potholes,” Kopecky stated of the course. “It’s a very long time trial, and my power comes when fatigue units in, though that is additionally a psychological sport. I hope to get up on Saturday with actually good legs.”
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