Lotte Kopecky is riding high after her recent triumph at the
European Time Trial Championships, but as she gears up for the World
Championships, she’s clear about one thing: Chloe Dygert is the rider to beat.
At 28, Kopecky is the reigning world road race champion and
secured a bronze medal in the road race at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but the
upcoming Women’s Time Trial at the World Championships in Zurich presents a new
challenge. The 29.9 km course, which starts in Gossau and ends in Zurich, is
not just a scenic route along Lake Zurich but also a challenging one, with over
300 meters of elevation gain. The relatively flat profile will favour powerful
riders, and Kopecky believes Dygert’s strength makes her the clear favourite.
Chloe Dygert, the reigning time trial world champion, will
be defending her title on this course. With her renowned time trial ability and
physical power, Dygert is expected to dominate the flat terrain and tackle the
2.4 km climb to Uetikon am See with equal finesse. However, competition is
fierce, and riders like Kopecky are not to be overlooked.
In an interview with Cyclingnews, Kopecky shared her
thoughts ahead of the World Championships. “The European Championship was
important for me,” she reflected. “The time trial at the Paris Games felt good
despite my fall, and the European Championships confirmed my progression. I
hope it continues at the World Championships.”
“A climb in a big time trial is something new to me, but
it’s not a disadvantage,” Kopecky said, referring to the slight ascent in the
route.
Kopecky has been focusing intensely on time trial training
over the past few months, and it’s starting to pay off. “I have never been on
my time trial bike as much as in the past few months. I am starting to enjoy it
more and more,” she revealed. Despite her growing confidence, Kopecky remains
humble, acknowledging that her rivals will be tough to beat.
“I’m not the favourite; I think the world title will go to
Chloé Dygert, who can also ride well on the climb, or maybe Grace Brown, too. I
include Demi Vollering among the podium candidates but hope to be amongst them,
too.”
Kopecky has set her sights on a podium finish, admitting
that while she may not be the top contender, her recent European Championship
win has given her hope. “I’d be very happy with a podium place, that’s what
I’ve set my sights on, but the recent European Championship gave me confidence.
I think a podium is definitely possible if I have a super day.”
As the world watches the time trial unfold in Zurich,
Kopecky’s form and skill could see her spring a surprise — but even she knows
that the path to victory runs through Chloe Dygert.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
- That is a very lazy way of putting it but so far on this website it seems like everyone is happy to look at everything lazily, even things that annoy them intensely. All they want to do is state their feeling and position but ask most to analyse a problem or come up with solutions or improvements and you’re stunned by silence. Nobody even really knows how this all happens. It’s very simple and quick to just say the UCI did it but I bet you they didn’t, I bet you not more than 2 people were involved, more likely just 1. The UCI may be ultimately responsible but it is not their decision, this is about hierarchy, power and delegation. The fact that protest is possible also means it isn’t over and that MORE people could get involved for a thorough review which could throw up anything. It is highly likely it was a sole commissar who decided and has that power in a first round. Therein might lie the problem the UCI has to consider, is it acceptable to give so much authority to one single person when it is quite possible for them to have a natural bias or be too easily susceptible to imposed bias. Who is to say an individual in this position isn’t susceptible to collaboration with outside players with interests in the results, nations, families, teams, betting companies, etc. On the one hand we have sports where these problems have been worked on way more to reduce such problems, on the other hand we have sports with far stricter and more draconian rules not even concerning safety or obstruction that nobody really questions like false starts or stepping out of lane or zones in athletics. If cycling hastowork on itself, it would be good if protagonists (all kinds) would start doing a little more than just moaning over outcomes.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Yes, so why not make comments less pointless?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- What a race! I didn't expect Vanthourenhout to collapse like that, and Wyseure did take the fight to Nys, but there was no doubt at the end. I also wonder what Aubin Sparfel would be capable of were he to race in the elites now. In the U23 ranks he is making good work of Giel Lejeune, who himself is among the better riders in the elites, and a top 10 contender in the big races (3rd at Kleebergcross, 8th at Berencross and 5th at Heerderstrand). In the French Cup, Sparfel is significantly better than Romain Debord (8th at Koppenbergcross and 10th at the Euros) and Rémi Lelandais (12th at Koppenbergcross and 19th at the Euros).
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - There really was nothing in it. Schreiber was so much faster, and Brand was fighting to stay in the wheel in the sprint. Schreiber did move a bit, but to say she closed the door doesn't make sense because Brand couldn't enter it anyway, abd she wasn't impeded.Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
Loading
1 Comments