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Double world champion Lotte Kopecky has opened up about the challenges she faced during her spring classics campaign, citing a lingering knee injury that disrupted her preparation and performance. In a candid social media post following her fifth-place finish at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the SD Worx-Protime leader revealed that persistent knee issues over the winter had left her unable to train consistently, impacting both her physical and mental well-being.
“I’ve been struggling with my knee this winter, being on and off the bike the whole time,” Kopecky wrote. “Mentally pretty challenging for someone who’s kind of addicted to sports. But again, I learned a lot about my body.” Despite these setbacks, Kopecky managed to secure her third Tour of Flanders title, a remarkable achievement given her circumstances. However, she fell short of her primary goal for the season: winning the Ardennes classics. Reflecting on the challenges of elite cycling, she noted, “We set goals, but that doesn’t mean we’ll succeed in them all. In the end, we lose more than we win.”
Kopecky also expressed frustration with criticism from the Belgian media and cycling fans, who questioned her perceived “lack of dominance” this spring. She acknowledged that her comments following Liège-Bastogne-Liège, where she stated she “should be happy” with her spring results given her injury struggles, may have been misinterpreted. “I wasn’t looking for excuses, and being straightforward is what I stand for. So when I said I should be happy with this spring after the winter I had in the interview after LBL, I should’ve thought twice before saying it,” she admitted. “But I was really done with the opinions, high expectations, and really had the feeling I am just not good enough anymore.”
The scrutiny Kopecky faced is not unique in Belgium, where cycling is a national obsession and riders frequently find themselves under intense media pressure. Earlier in the spring, Wout van Aert faced criticism for missing out on a northern monument win despite a strong showing in his comeback from injury. Similarly, Remco Evenepoel was the subject of harsh coverage following his performance at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, with one journalist even targeting Evenepoel’s wife and her family. Kopecky emphasized the toll such criticism can take, saying, “We need media, but sometimes it is hard to hear everything people are saying about you without having any clue what’s happening in our lives.”
Looking ahead, Kopecky is taking a break from racing and will not compete in the upcoming La Vuelta Femenina in Spain. She explained that her body needs time to recover and rebuild after a challenging spring. “I could feel my body needed a lot of race rhythm because I didn’t do any intensity training this winter,” she said. “Trying to trust the process, relying on the base I built over the past years. But I never reached my full potential.” Despite the setbacks, Kopecky remains optimistic and motivated as she shifts her focus to her next major goal: winning the Tour de France Femmes this summer.
Reflecting on her spring campaign, Kopecky expressed gratitude for her achievements and the support of her team. “Just like many of you, I wanted more victories myself and to honor this amazing jersey,” she said, referring to her world champion’s jersey. “In general, I am happy with the way things went, coming out of the classics with good form, kind of fresh feeling, and very hungry for wins.” She concluded with a message of resilience and determination: “Sometimes things happen for a reason. I’ll keep up the hard work, aiming and dreaming of big things this summer.”
Kopecky’s openness about her struggles and her resolve to overcome them underscore the challenges faced by elite athletes, particularly in a high-pressure environment like Belgian cycling. As she prepares for the Tour de France Femmes, her fans will undoubtedly be rooting for her to achieve the success she has worked so hard to earn.
