"It’s too risky to chase a Grand Tour": Lotte Kopecky makes a sacrifice to be able to shine again in 2026

After a season shaped by pressure and physical setbacks, Lotte Kopecky approaches 2026 with a clear idea: enjoy racing again and rediscover her competitive edge in the Spring Classics.

The Team SD Worx - Protime leader is putting aside, at least for now, the ambition of fighting for the Tour de France Femmes overall and lines up at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad with a different brief: less pressure, more freedom, and a “wild card” mindset.

A triple Tour of Flanders winner and champion of the Paris-Roubaix Femmes, Kopecky wants 2026 to revolve again around one-day races. Her calendar highlights Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes, and, later, the Worlds in Montreal, where she will chase a third road world title.

Her tone now conveys calm and resolve. "I feel much better. I’ll still have pressure, but last year it was a lot and I knew I wasn’t at the level I wanted. I feel good. I’m happy. I’m motivated. I’m eager to race. So, mentally, that makes a big difference," she explained at a pre-season media conference including Cyclingnews.

The contrast with the start of 2025 is stark. Back then, Kopecky was dealing with a lingering knee injury, severe back pain, and even a vertebral fracture that completely compromised her winter build.

"When I was here last year [January], I wasn’t even riding. Physically, I just wasn’t good enough. I tried to limit the losses, but I missed my whole winter training. In my case, it chased me all season. That was the main issue," she recalled.

That context ultimately influenced her withdrawal from the Giro d’Italia Donne and her role change at the Tour, where she shifted from GC contender to supporting Anna van der Breggen in the mountains and lead-out for Lorena Wiebes on sprint days.

"It didn’t go as we expected, that’s for sure. I’m glad I tried. Now we know it’s probably not for me, and right now, I don’t feel like trying again. I think if I do, it will be after seeing the route and knowing I can really do it. If the climbs are too steep, it’s better to say: 'Forget it.'"

Even so, Kopecky doesn’t dismiss her previous Grand Tour performances, such as her second places at the 2023 Tour and the 2024 Giro, where she shone on iconic climbs like the Tourmalet and Blockhaus. However, she stresses those results came without the burden of being the designated leader. "I love being the outsider, to be honest. These were races where I had no pressure; I could give everything, but it didn’t matter if I got dropped or not."

Now, with a team increasingly geared toward climbers and GC riders, she acknowledges that role may be harder to reprise. "The team is shifting toward climbers and GC riders, and it will be harder to get this guest position, but I enjoyed it much more at the Tour and the Giro, where I finished second twice. For me, it was a much more relaxed way. It’s too risky for me to go all-in at a Grand Tour."

That’s why 2026 marks a return to what she does best: ruling the Classics with power, instinct, and aggression. "I have a lot of chances in the Spring Classics. I think it was good to improvise for a year, but now I want to go back to what I’m good at and where I know I can be very confident."

Her priority is clear and heartfelt. "These are the races I love, the ones I enjoy the most, and the most important part of the season will be the first three months. Those are the races I’m looking forward to. Then there’s the World Championships in Canada."

And her final message leaves no doubt about renewed ambition: "I’m eager to race again and to win. 2025 is what it is; it wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terribly bad either. I’m really looking forward to 2026."