Lotte Kopecky preparing for Tour de France Femmes mission: “It will be all hands on deck to not lose time in the mountains”

Lotte Kopecky has set her sights on one major goal for 2025: winning the Tour de France Femmes. After securing back-to-back world championship titles, she is determined to take the next step in her career.

Following the spring classics, Kopecky will head to an altitude training camp to prepare for the Tour. With Demi Vollering’s departure from SD Worx-Protime, she is poised to become the team’s undisputed leader for the race.

Kopecky came close to victory in 2023, finishing second in the Tour de France Femmes. Reflecting on her past performances, she believes her experience in the Giro d'Italia Donne provides a stronger foundation.

"Second place in the Giro last year gives me more to hold on to than second place in the Tour. Those are the results I'll take with me to the Tour. In that Tour where I came second, I was lucky to have a 45-second lead for the stage to the Tourmalet," she told Wieler Revue.

The Belgian star is aware that replicating her previous advantage will be difficult. "I probably won't get that freedom anymore. It will be all hands on deck to not lose time in the mountains. In the Giro I was one of the better climbers in that very tough stage to Blockhaus. That gives me confidence for the future."

Kopecky will also benefit from the return of Anna van der Breggen, who has committed to supporting her at the Tour. The dynamic within the team will be different compared to her partnership with Vollering.

"I complement Anna more than I did with Demi Vollering. I think that is mainly due to Anna as a person. I think Demi would have had a lot of trouble saying that she has to ride in my service during the Tour. Something she has every right to do, by the way."