Team SD Worx-Protime looking for win in Tour of Flanders with ironclad squad

Team SD Worx-Protime looking for win in Tour of Flanders with ironclad squad

‘Winning the Tour of Flanders in the rainbow jersey, that's what I dream of’

04/04/2025

Team SD Worx-Protime is heading to the Tour of Flanders with Blanka Vas, Elena Cecchini, Mischa Bredewold, Anna van der Breggen, Lorena Wiebes and Lotte Kopecky. After already a successful start to the season, the Dutch World team hopes to triumph in ‘Vlaanderens Mooiste’ for the seventh time. ‘We have a strong team and have to go from our own strength,’ said Lotte Kopecky.

Lotte Kopecky: ‘I'm trying to live towards Sunday as calmly as possible. I'm really looking forward to starting again in the rainbow jersey in the Tour of Flanders. To be able to cycle around my own country as world champion is a privilege. It would have been nice if I had had a good feeling in Dwars door Vlaanderen, but I don't worry about that anymore. That was just an off-day. And hey, I also won Paris-Roubaix last year after a bad day in the Tour of Flanders. And I became world champion in Zurich after a poorer time trial. So there is no reason to panic. On the contrary, we come to the start with a rock-solid team and so we can play the team game. That gives me confidence.’

‘The fact that I already managed to win the Tour of Flanders twice makes me more relaxed going into Sunday. That I can take the record? I'm personally not concerned with that. I just really want to triumph in the rainbow jersey. That would be fantastic! I'd like to hang that picture up at home (laughs).’

‘That I suffered so much in Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday is maybe exactly what I needed to be at my best on Sunday. In Milan-Sanremo and Ghent-Wevelgem I was already good. I am also hugely looking forward to racing with Anna van der Breggen. This is our very first race as teammates. I was sorry that Anna had just quit when I signed with the team, so it gives a lot of motivation to try to win the Ronde van Vlaanderen together for the team. I think we are complementary and it will be a good match. I am looking forward to what is to come this spring and hope there are some great things to come. Starting with the Ronde Sunday.’

Lorena Wiebes: ‘Playing our cards with the team at the right time’

Lorena Wiebes: ‘The Tour of Flanders will be a tough race. For me it will be important to hang on as long as possible and help the team where possible. The Oude Kwaremont is a breaking point in the race. The cobbles always take longer than you think. What I learned from our reconnaissance? That it is important to survive the Oude Kwaremont as well as possible. The Koppenberg is also such an important point. That's where you can really lose the race. Let's hope we don't have to run again this year. It will be a matter of starting the Koppenberg well positioned. Fortunately, in our team we all have riders who can do that well.’

‘The Tour of Flanders is a wonderful race. Whether it's on my bucket list? Well to win it one day. But winning it this year is not really realistic for me. I'll make it a goal in the future. Now it's about learning and taking a step up from last year and therefore staying in the front group longer. It would be great if Lotte Kopecky could win the race this year. The crowd already went crazy when she won the race in her Belgian jersey. Imagine if she succeeds in the rainbow jersey. Then it will be completely crazy I think. We have a strong team at the start. It is the first time that Anna van der Breggen, Lotte Kopecky and I will start together. We will try to play our cards right in the final to hopefully win the Tour of Flanders.’

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