"One of Lotte's strengths is riding by gut feeling" - Belgian coach confident even weakened Kopecky can navigate chaotic World Championships
CyclingFriday, 14 August 2026 at 05:00
Lotte Kopecky is already clearly enjoying a much smoother season than a year prior, and that's also reflected in her sensations from a Tour de France Femmes participation. Kopecky was not a leader herself, but was still able to play a key role in sprint victories of Lorena Wiebes, and finished second in one of the stages herself.
With a strong Tour in mind, the Belgian can therefore look ahead to World Championships in Montreal with renewed confidence: "Things were definitely on an upward trajectory in France. That is promising for the World Championships."
With hard race awaiting ladies in Canada, the national coach Ludwig Willems is more than pleased to hear that his intended leader is up for the challenge, as he outlines in an interview for WielerFlits: "For Lotte, the World Championships are a goal every year. But she has to be mentally strong. If that is the case, then she knows she can certainly handle that course."
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Tactical expert
One thing that, according to Willems, gives Kopecky an edge over her opponents is the tactical maturity with which she already claimed two back-to-back world titles in Glasgow and Zurich.
"Moreover, the World Championships are always a special race where a lot can happen tactically. Because the race is ridden without communication, many riders who are used to being directed from the team car freeze up there. Whereas one of Lotte's strengths is riding by gut feeling. She often makes the right decisions at the right moments in such a finale. You can make as many plans as you want, but being able to react to changes is much more crucial."
"In Glasgow, Lotte was the top favorite and you could expect her to win there. But the course in Zurich was actually too difficult. Nevertheless, thanks to her insight, and because the Dutch team made a tactical blunder, she was able to win after a strange race. Even though she wasn't the strongest woman in the race that day."
Demi Vollering at the 2026 Tour de France Femmes
That skill would more than ever have to come to the fore if Kopecky were to succeed next month; despite a successfully recovery from the streak of health problems in 2025, the Belgian woman still lacks some of that spark from when she nearly won the entire Giro d'Italia Women and was flying two years ago.
What is there to be done about the Dutch (and Vollering)?
The Dutch national team once again appears to be in full strength with Tour de France Femmes champion Demi Vollering back with yet another bid for the elusive rainbow jersey. Kopecky does not appear on par with her former teammate, but Willems is not worried since the World Championships are such a specific race.
"But that was already the case last year. And yet, somehow, things always went wrong. At a World Championship like this, everyone isn't looking at us, but at the Dutch team. That will bring about special scenarios again."
"Behind Vollering, you have about ten riders with a level that is close to each other, and I still include Lotte among them. In a race that suits her, she is still world-class. Moreover, she can prepare herself in ideal conditions over the coming weeks. There is very little competition left before that World Championship. But with her experience, she knows perfectly how to handle that period," Willems concludes.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses 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.
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