“My heart is with the classics" maintains Lotte Kopecky despite Tour de France Femmes heroics

Lotte Kopecky was arguably the standout rider of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes, finishing second in the general classification behind teammate Demi Vollering. Despite her heroics though, Kopecky is unsure about becoming a true classification rider.

“I am not concerned with that at all,” says the 27-year-old Team SD Worx superstar in conversation with Sporza. “I am very happy with the rider I am at the moment. My heart is with the classics and it will probably stay there for a while. I'm not going to do crazy things and I'm not going to focus on climbing."

Winning stage 1, Kopecky's best performance was, without doubt, her sixth-placed finish atop the Col du Tourmalet on stage 6. Traditionally viewed as more likely to win a sprinter/puncheur stage, Kopeky climbed better than she ever has before and despite being unable to hold onto the Maillot Jaune, the Belgian kept herself in the competition in the GC fight.

“I had no expectations at all for the Tourmalet. When Demi Vollering went, it was the acceleration too much. But when I heard that I was still in front of the podium, I kept pushing and gave everything. It was a very crazy ride and I didn't really understand what I was doing," she recaps. “I didn't worry at all during the time trial. I didn't even know until the podium that I was second instead of third."