Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) has made cycling history with her second consecutive victory at the Tour of Flanders, becoming only the second woman after 2004/2005 winner Mirjam Melchers to defend the title and earn her rightful place in the record books.
Kopecky embraced the pressure of a nation who were excited to see her take first place when she wore the iconic black-yellow-red jersey of the Belgian champion. She was able to outstrip Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team) to win her first Flanders victory.
The 27-year-old embraced the support of her country and expressed her joy at winning her dream race for the second time. “I feel that I have a lot of fans who want me to win and I also know that I have a whole country behind me. The fans were cheering for me all along the parcours and I was very pleased with that”, she said at the press conference.
In mid-March, Kopecky suffered a personal loss when her brother Seppe passed away, an event which brings the importance of cycling for her full circle. She has expressed that cycling allows her freedom and helps her to express her frustrations.
SD Worx have dominated the spring Classics so far with nine victories and Kopecky has now brought three of those home. Next up is Paris-Roubaix Femmes, which her team have yet to win, and Kopecky is ready to accept her role as one of the favourites at the startline.
Team SD Worx is a Dutch professional cycling team, founded in 2019 and made possible by the investment of the road cycling project of the Dutch sports marketing agency, Project (DG Sports). Under the purposeful vision of the agency’s core principles, the team is geared towards developing young talents and providing a world-class structure.
Lotte Kopecky is a professional Belgian road cyclist and current reigning champion of the Tour of Flanders. Kopecky began cycling as a sport at an early age and has gone on to become a highly successful rider, having competed in several major cycling tours and races including the Giro Rosa, La Course and La Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta. Kopecky has found success due to her ability to push herself and her mental and physical resilience.
