"I'm a bit afraid of the battle with Lotte Kopecky" - Demi Vollering previews potential Team SD Worx civil war in World Championships road race
Cycling
Both Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky have been dominant throughout 2023 in the women's World Tour peloton. Part of the all-conquering Team SD Worx usually, the pair will be on opposing sides in the upcoming World Championships road race in Glasgow.
"I think Lotte is a fantastic person and she is a great rider. One of the strongest at the moment," said Vollering in an interview with her team's official website. After finishing one and two at the recent Tour de France Femmes, Vollering and Kopecky and arguably the two standout riders in the women's peloton. The prospect of coming up against her great friend in the battle for the Rainbow Jersey is a daunting prospect for Vollering.
"You always prefer to race together, but at the World Championships, we'll wear a different jersey. It will be weird to race against her. At training camp you sometimes simulate a game, but there is nothing at stake," Vollering explains. "Now it's about a world title. On the one hand I'm a bit afraid of the battle with Lotte because she is in great shape and on the other hand I'm also looking forward to it."
“Whether I become world champion or not, my year has been brilliant anyway. But a world title would make it completely unforgettable," concludes Vollering. "Of course I would have liked to have been there last year, but it is not the case that this is an extra motivation now. I can't change anything anymore. Glasgow is a new opportunity. I find myself calm. In the Tour de France I experienced a form of restlessness, I was sometimes too eager. Now I live with confidence towards the road race."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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"Whether I become world champion or not, 2023 is an amazing year. But a world title would make it truly unforgettable", says @demivollering. "I notice that I'm calm. The road race will be an interesting spectable." 📰 teamsdworx.com/en/news/world2… #Glasgow2023 📸 Billy Ceusters
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