"I'm not busy with records. If that's the case, then that's the case. I just want to achieve a good performance" - Lotte Kopecky looking for 5th straight Belgian title

Lotte Kopecky will be looking to make history by claiming her fifth straight victory at the Belgian National Championships on Thursday.

"I'm not busy with records. If that's the case, then that's the case. I just want to achieve a good performance," she says in the build-up. Kopecky is also taking part in the individual time-trial event, in what will be her first race against the clock of the year. "Time trial is not really my favorite discipline. There are also few races in women's cycling where you have to race against the clock. That's why I don't train much on the time trial bike."

"I can time trial, but I don't want to make it a big goal in the future. Why am I starting on Thursday? If you have a chance of winning it would be crazy not to take that into account," she continues. "But you won't hear me say that I will become Belgian champion again on Thursday. That is not so obvious."

Kopecky feels the standard of women's racing in Belgium has improved drastically in recent years, meaning the competition is more fierce than ever. "The competition has become a lot bigger in recent years. I immediately think of Julie De Wilde. Julie Van De Velde will also deliver a great performance. I fear them the most," she explains. "I have won 4 titles in a row. That series will be broken one day. The course is technical. I can ride the bike well, but that is not a guarantee of success."