"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?