"I should also be able to compete for medals in the omnium" - Lotte Kopecky balancing Olympic dreams on both road and track

Lotte Kopecky, one of the biggest stars of women's cycling, will head to Paris next summer as one of the favourites to take Olympic gold in the women's road race. It's not only on the road where she has dreams of competing however.

"If everything goes well and I have the right fitness, I should also be able to compete for medals in the omnium. I have taken the steps necessary to go for the medals there,” the Belgian of Team SD Worx tells Wielerflits. "As for the team race: everything depends on what will happen to Shari Bossuyt, (currently suspended for banned substance ed.). We can also wait and see the evolution of the other riders. If it's not worth it, I won't drive anyway. The team race takes place two days before the omnium, and it is still a number with risks. So if the medal chances aren't great, I'd better not ride.”

At the last Olympic Games, Anna Kiesenhofer took a shock victory and secured the gold. A similarly surprising result won't happen this time though Kopecky insists. “I think everyone has learned their lesson. The early break will never get as much of a lead as in Tokyo, but someone has to take responsibility, right? The Netherlands?" Kopecky suggests. "In Tokyo they started with four leading women. I think they will not make the same mistake this time and will rather opt for two leaders and two servants.”

"I think it is a course where differences can be made. I'll be exploring soon anyway. What I already know for sure: we are allowed to start with a maximum of four riders per country, so it will be a completely different race than we are used to," she continues. "I couldn't immediately compare it to anything, but you already know that it will be difficult to control. Belgium can field a strong team of four riders, so I should not feel disadvantaged compared to the other teams.”