"I don't know where I got the strength, but there was just no point in saying 'I'm throwing in the towel'" - Lotte Kopecky talks about what was a tough year for her personally
Cycling
Lotte Kopecky had a particularly successful season as a rider, but on a personal level, 2023 was also a very difficult year. In March she lost her brother Seppe, who took his own life at the age of 29. In conversation with HLN, a candid Kopecky tells her story.
"My brother was someone, really, with his heart in the right place," says Kopecky, who started cycling through Seppe. "Yes, he had problems with drugs and alcohol, but if he could help people, he did."
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Despite the death of her brother, Kopecky still rode a very good season, including a win in the Tour of Flanders, a second place in the Tour de France Femmes and a world road title. "I don't know how I did it, I don't know where I got the strength, but there was just no point in saying 'I'm throwing in the towel'. My brother may not have seen a way out for himself, but I am sure he wanted me to continue."
"Will there be another backlash? It just might be possible. The season is over, I am aware that the man with the hammer could still come along, but if that happens I will be prepared and well surrounded. I would like to be at the start next year in the same state and condition, but now I have to take good care of myself and so I will have to say 'no' to many things this winter."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
- the time for a GC rider to retire is when they cannot win stages, or have a significant level drop like from winner/podium into top 5/10 consistently. Roglic is still competitive and Froome raced even though he became pack fodder.abstractengineer10-11-2026
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