"A shame, because I was doing really well" - Lotte Kopecky's first hope of Olympic medal ruined by time trial crash

Lotte Kopecky has multiple gold medal hopes at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, both on the road and on the track. The first of the Belgian's chances ended in disappointment however, as she slid out on the wet and slippery Paris roads on Saturday afternoon during the women's individual time trial.

“I went around the roundabout very carefully,” Kopecky reflected immediately after the finish in conversation with VTM, having crossed the line with sixth fastest time, 1:56 down on the eventual gold medal winner, Grace Brown. “I thought I had passed it, but then I crashed. A shame, because I was doing really well."

"In terms of power, I was perfectly on schedule. They were the best powers I had ever ridden in a time trial. I thought I shouldn't go over the limit. So in itself I rode a really good time trial. I really had a good feeling," continues the road race world champion. "Secretly I was hoping for a medal and I think that was possible. 6th, 25 seconds from the podium is a shame. It's really very bitter. I can't say more about it.”

As mentioned though, Kopecky can't lose focus as in the coming weeks, the 28-year-old of Team SD Worx - Protime will attempt to add Olympic road race gold to her World Championship win in 2023, before making the journey to the track and attempting to take gold in the Omnium, where she is likely to start as the favourite for victory.

In the road race, set for Sunday, August 4th, Kopecky will be joined in the Belgian colours by the trio of Julie Van de Velde, Justine Ghekiere and Margot Vanpachtenbeke, where some of Kopecky's main challengers will be her Team SD Worx - Protime teammates, Demi Vollering and Lorena Wiebes from the Dutch national team.