"It's an extremely tough elimination race, a battle of attrition" - Lotte Kopecky thinks Demi Vollering can be beaten at World Championships
Cycling
Lotte Kopecky sees the 2026 World Championships revolving around Demi Vollering as the former rainbow jersey winner labelled the Montreal course a race of attrition ahead of Saturday.
The 2023 and 2024 world champion leads a Belgium selection including Shari Bossuyt, Lotte Claes, Sandrine Tas, Margot Vanpachtenbeke, and Julie Van De Velde. Alongside Vollering, other contenders include Marlen Reusser and Kasia Niewiadoma in an exciting battle.
The 30-year-old has shown flashes of top form throughout the 2026 season, including winning the Milano Sanremo Donne, but has come short during the Tour de France Femmes as she searches for top form this weekend.
The SD Worx Protime rider knows that Vollering is definitely the rider to beat, but was quick to remind media that there are other contenders who can make a chance for themselves and shouldn't be considered inferior to the Tour de France Femmes champion.
Demi Vollering before the World Championships time trial
Kopecky backs Vollering to be strong but thinks others can still win
"I think she might well be the woman to beat, but there are a lot of riders lying in wait with many strong qualities who certainly shouldn't be considered inferior to Demi. I'm also very curious to see how the race unfolds on Saturday," Kopecky told VTM.
"The form of the day will be decisive. I'm hoping for a top day for myself – fresh legs, a good feeling. If that top day comes, then a lot is possible."
Looking at the Montreal circuit, Kopecky noted that it reminds her of the 2024 Zurich circuit that gave her victory.
Kopecky expects tough race on circuit
She expects an attritional race with the speed of the circuit decisive in narrowing down the field as the laps go on.
"I learned that it's a very tough circuit. A very fast course with very few recovery moments. If we look at today's races, it's an extremely tough elimination race, a battle of attrition," she said.
"I'm not comparing this course to Zurich, but I'm of the opinion that the majority of people also considered Zurich too tough for me. I'm very happy that I proved them wrong there."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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