"If I want to compete, my time trial has to be perfect" - Lotte Kopecky plays down European Championship time trial hopes

This afternoon, the men's and women's time trials of the 2024 European Championship will be fought for. Among others, Lotte Kopecky is one of the women most favoured.

"I'm actually looking forward to it," she previews in conversation with Sporza. "It's still a fairly long time trial of 31 kilometers with a beautiful course. I'm curious about what's possible. Time trials are a discipline in which I am discovering myself a little bit. Where I want to know where I can end up. I also think that this could become important in the future. It is a discipline that makes you a lot stronger. And if I want to compete for the marbles in stage races, my time trial has to be perfect."

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Whilst perhaps not a natural time trial powerhouse, Kopecky has, as mentioned, been working hard to improve that area of her expertise. Can she now claim the European title though?

"That will all depend on the form of the day. I just need a really good day. Last year after the European Championship in Emmen I thought: 'I'm never doing this again'," she says. "But at the Games I had a really good feeling, and I even enjoyed it, despite my crash. I hope I can ride around with a good feeling tomorrow. I can stick to my predetermined pace plan, and maybe even a bit more than that. And then it depends on what the competition does. I can't predict much about it, but I do think there could be a good outcome."  

In terms of challengers, Kopecky has eyes on a few rivals. "I think especially of Ellen van Dijk: she gets a course that is tailored to her. She is finding her form, so it could be a nice battle," Kopecky concludes her assessment.

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Kopecky names Ellen Van Dijk her main challenger