Lotte Kopecky goes to Liège-Bastogne-Liège relaxed and confident

Lotte Kopecky goes to Liège-Bastogne-Liège relaxed and confident

‘Winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège in the rainbow jersey is a dream’

26/04/2025

With Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the finale of the classic spring is already announcing itself. La Doyenne is high on Lotte Kopecky's wish list. A win in Liège-Bastogne-Liège would mark a third win in a monument for Team SD Worx-Protime this year and thus be the icing on the cake of a wonderful spring. "Before the season, I had marked Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège as my goals for the spring. Achieving those goals constitutes an extra motivation in itself," Kopecky said.

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Lotte Kopecky: "The fact that I already have a win in the Tour of Flanders in my pocket gives me peace of mind. For me that is the best possible starting position, namely that I can work towards Sunday in peace and quiet. If I had not won anything so far, the pressure would have been a lot higher. But with the Tour of Flanders I already have a monument in my pocket, so that gives confidence. I really enjoy setting goals before the season and then living up to them. That in itself is an extra motivation to also be able to win in Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday."

"I think I'm ready for it. Since the Tour of Flanders and actually only since the Amstel Gold Race, I have that fresher feeling I was looking for again. It would be nice if I can have that same feeling next Sunday. I also had a good feeling in Wednesday's race, but that last climb just doesn't suit me as much. So I'm heading to Liège positive and with confidence."

"How I rate Liège-Bastogne-Liège? It's a very tough race. It's only my second participation, but I don't think the course has any surprises in store for me. Last year I was past my best form. In terms of results, that edition was disappointing, but I am glad I started anyway. That way I know how that race goes and how the climbs in a race feel. I have also done four reconnaissance. So I know the course inside and out. It's hoping for a super day. Then a lot is possible."

"It also gives peace of mind that we are starting with a very strong team. Mischa Bredewold is brimming with confidence after her win in the Amstel Gold Race. Femke Gerritse has been acting at a high level all spring and Steffi Häberlin and Mikayla Harvey came on very strong in the Flèche Wallonne. On top of that, Anna van der Breggen is back starting in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. It was the right choice that she did not ride on Wednesday, especially considering the weather conditions we had."

"Anna and I are a nice duo who complement each other. With a fit Anna, you pretty much have a certainty in the final. It's always nicer to go into the final with two. Anna has a lot of course insight and communication between the two of us is very smooth. It's also nice to be able to exchange thoughts during the race. In the Tour of Flanders, she played an important role for me. She gave me a lot of confidence towards the Oude Kwaremont. I hope we can play the game together on Sunday."

"The fact that we have such a strong team at the start takes a lot of pressure off. I just like being able to play different cards. Sometimes it falls your way and sometimes not. I don't mind that either, it's just nice to share that pressure and have a freer feeling in the race. What triumphing in the rainbow jersey would mean to me? It would be a dream. If that would succeed, spring would be more than successful. It would be really nice to be able to tick off Liège-Bastogne-Liège."

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