Lotte Kopecky begins her journey to the Tour de France Femmes at Milano-Sanremo: "I hope that the number of kilometres will do its job"

Lotte Kopecky, the double world champion, is set to begin her season this weekend at Milano-Sanremo, a race making its long-awaited debut in women's cycling. Speaking to Wieler Revue, Kopecky shared her thoughts on the evolving dynamics within the peloton, the shifting balance of power, and the excitement surrounding the inaugural women's edition of La Primavera.

One of the most noticeable changes in women’s cycling this season has been the greater balance among teams, moving away from the dominance of Team SD Worx – Protime seen in previous years. While SD Worx had been the overwhelming force in recent seasons, Kopecky acknowledges that the new balance could be beneficial for the sport overall.

"I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be really interesting to see how all that plays out against each other. I think it could be a really good year for women's cycling. The quality is much more evenly distributed across all the teams, and that's going to result in some really great races. In a way, it was nice that we were the dominant team of course, but for the bigger picture, this is better."

Kopecky admits that there were races in the past where she felt SD Worx was nearly untouchable, but she recognizes that this era of near inevitability is now over.

"There have certainly been races where I thought: a lot has to go wrong for it not to be for us today. That time is over now. I am still well surrounded in the Flemish classics. We lose Demi and Reusser. But he didn't race much last year anyway. We have to keep focusing on ourselves, and I think we still have a very strong, qualitative team."

Despite losing key riders like Demi Vollering and Marlen Reusser, Kopecky remains confident in the strength of her team, particularly in the Flemish classics, where she has consistently been one of the strongest contenders.

Beyond the shift in team dynamics, one of the biggest developments this year is the introduction of a women's Milano-Sanremo, an addition that has been long overdue. For a race with such rich history and prestige, finally having a women's edition is a major milestone for the sport. However, Kopecky believes there is still room for improvement when it comes to the length and overall challenge of the race.

"It's definitely fun. In a way, I think it's a shame that the number of kilometres isn't that long. The final will probably be the same, but I also hope that the number of kilometres will do its job. Then the race would have the same character as the men's. As far as I'm concerned, that race could be 200 kilometres. Then the difference on the Poggio would be made easier."

Kopecky’s call for a longer race highlights an ongoing debate in women’s cycling: how to ensure parity with the men’s calendar without simply replicating every race in the same way. In short, how can the women’s peloton be unique whilst also sharing the same legendary routes as the men?

As she prepares for her season opener, Kopecky finds herself at the centre of a sport in transition, with new team dynamics, fresh rivalries, and historic races being introduced. While SD Worx may no longer dominate by default, she remains one of the strongest and most versatile riders in the peloton, making her a key contender in any major race she enters.

Of course, there is an extra dynamic for the double world champion this year…the Tour de France Femmes. This year we will see Kopecky target the yellow jersey, but will her new GC ambitions impact her classics ability?