Lotte Kopecky set for Tour de France Femmes GC bid? “She has shown that she can survive quite a few mountains”

The route for the fourth edition of the Tour de France Femmes was revealed yesterday in Paris, sparking debate over whether Belgian cycling star Lotte Kopecky will set her sights on the general classification. With an impressive list of accomplishments this season, including defending her World Road Race Championship in Zurich, and taking victories in prestigious races like Paris-Roubaix and Strade Bianche, Kopecky’s potential for the GC is a hot topic.

Speaking with Het Laatste Nieuws, Danny Stam, team manager of Team SD Worx-Protime, expressed cautious optimism regarding Kopecky’s chances. “Now that the route is there, we will see if it is worth it," Stam remarked. He added, “It will be a beautiful and challenging Tour, which will be even more difficult to control because of those two extra days. That offers perspective for us. There is a lot in it, short, vicious climbs at the beginning and the sting is in the tail.”

The three final stages in the Alps, including Chambéry, Col de la Madeleine, and Châtel, are set to be the most challenging, and Stam acknowledged the difficulty they present.

“Ultimately only the Saturday stage (on Col de la Madeleine) is extremely tough,” he commented, noting that although Kopecky may not be able to tackle these climbs with the pure climbers, her past performances prove she is capable of handling mountainous terrain. “I’m not saying that Lotte can just ride up those cols with the best, but she has already shown that she can survive quite a few cols. Lotte is a world-class rider and has already won mountain stages.”

Kopecky’s unexpected second-place finish in the final classification of the Tour this year has only added to the intrigue surrounding her potential GC ambitions.

“We have already talked to Lotte in recent weeks about how we can approach the Tour, because that would mean a change in the build-up of the season and the Tour preparation,” he said. “Now that the course is there, we will see after her vacation whether it is worth aiming for a classification.”

As the team contemplates a potential shift in Kopecky’s focus for the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, fans eagerly await confirmation on whether she will target overall victory in the iconic race.