Kopecky heartbroken following missed opportunity at World Championships: "This feels like losing gold"

Lotte Kopecky hadn't shown the same form recently that she had earlier in the year, but she nevertheless came to the World Championships as a favourite, and found herself in a winning position towards the end.

"I just couldn't keep up with the five leaders, but I knew we could still catch them if we could turn around well," Kopecky told Sporza after the finish. Leading the Belgian team, she had high hopes of fighting for the gold medal, and found herself in the position. She couldn't keep up with the attacks of the strongest on both final laps, but both times she managed to get in a good group that eventually reeled in the offensives. Everything seemed set for a sprint, until it wasn't...

"Everyone looked at me when Van Vleuten attacked," Kopecky described. "They knew that I was basically the fastest of that group. If I would have closed the gap, Persico would have won. This feels like losing gold.” It was a tremendous disappointment for Kopecky, who banged on her handlebars across the finish after winning the sprint for second place.

“I am very sorry, I feel this is a huge missed opportunity. The chance of a lifetime even. I think I'm going to watch and experience the last kilometer a few more times. I'll have to let it all sink in," she concluded. Although she's had a very strong season, this will come as a hard hit for Kopecky, as she had almost everything fall into place for a maiden World Title.