Emotional Kopecky after dramatic opening weekend: "I didn’t get much sleep last night"
Women's Cycling
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Follow us on GoogleShe had been looking forward to it for months: the Tour de France Femmes was supposed to be her big goal in 2025. Lotte Kopecky started the year late, even skipping a few classics, but when she really needed to be in top form, she had to withdraw from the Giro d'Italia with a back injury. The SD Worx-Protime world champion put her Tour ambitions on hold, but still hoped for good legs and a bit of a miracle. That didn't happen. After two disappointing stages, Kopecky stood in front of the camera in tears.
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Before the Tour, SD Worx-Protime had already significantly lowered expectations. Kopecky had recovered from her problems in the Giro, but this meant she had not had ideal preparation. Sports director Danny Stam mentioned two good, punchy opportunities in the opening weekend in Brittany. After that, they would assess the situation. “Maybe there are still opportunities to ride for the GC, and then we will go for it.”
With that in mind, Kopecky's Dutch team also rode all out for the Belgian in the first stage, but by the time Blanka Vas and Anna van der Breggen had done their work, Kopecky was unloaded. She lost more than a minute and entered the bus without saying a word. "It's better that she doesn't do any interviews or look on social media right now," said Van der Breggen about that Sunday morning.
Read more below the photo.
Kopecky draws same conclusion as SD Worx-Protime
On Sunday, Kopecky lost ground early in the final, although she did come back and gave it her all for Lorena Wiebes (who finished second) and Van der Breggen. The latter said, "The pressure is off her now. This Tour will be different from what she had imagined, but if she can bounce back, she can still do very well in these kinds of stages. I hope we can help her with that and cheer her up. Hopefully, things will suddenly turn around."
Kopecky drew the same conclusion after the second stage, when she took some time to speak with Belgian media. "The feeling isn't great, and that's quite frustrating. I'm not someone who looks for excuses. It's just not working out. I've been away from home for a long time and have done everything I can to succeed here, but it's turned out completely differently. It's certainly not a nice feeling. I didn't get much sleep last night. It is what it is. We have to accept it."
The fact that she showed character and rode hard for Wiebes in stage 2 said a lot about her. "I really struggled on that last climb, but the team shouted that they still needed me, so I pushed with all my strength to get back, for one last effort. Unfortunately, we just fell short. (...) Let's hope we can take the victory with the team tomorrow. Our Tour isn't lost yet. We can still make it a great week. Giving up? No way."
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- I’m still learning the calendar: is cyclocross mainly preparation for the spring classics, or does he race it as a separate goal as well? I’d love to see him back in the mud.jeremya04-11-2026
- The article makes it sound as if Roubaix is the only classic where he has a realistic shot. He’s been close in Flanders too, and one good tactical day can change everything.jennifer1904-11-2026
- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026