“The fifth edition will be completely different from the previous years” – Team SD Worx - Protime expect new challenge for Lotte Kopecky at Paris-Roubaix

Fresh off her record-breaking third victory at the Tour of Flanders, Lotte Kopecky is already shifting focus to her next major goal: Paris–Roubaix. The World Champion has completed a recon of the course this week as she prepares to chase an iconic Monument double.

Kopecky is no stranger to the punishing pavé of Northern France. She has started all four previous editions of the women’s Paris–Roubaix and claimed victory in last year’s race. But 2025 presents a special opportunity, to win both Flanders and Roubaix in the same season.

“We pushed hard on the cobblestones, but because the Tour of Flanders is still fresh in our legs, we took it easy on the intermediate sections,” said SD Worx–Protime manager Danny Stam in an interview with HLN.

Stam noted that the conditions for the fifth edition of the race could bring new challenges.

“The fifth edition will be completely different from the previous years, but that doesn’t make it any less dangerous. There is a lot of dust in the bends of the cobblestone sections, and the edge between the cobblestones and the grass is often easy to ride on, which means there is a big chance of falls if someone wants to jump off the edge back onto the cobblestones," he explained.

Adding to the unpredictability is the wind forecast, which could impact how the race unfolds.

“According to the weather forecast, the wind will turn a bit during the weekend and on Saturday, it will blow more in the side or even slightly in the advantage, which also means there is a chance of echelons.”

Kopecky was in marvellous form at the weekend, and will hoping to defend her title in style. But there’s no guarantees on the cobbles, and she’ll have to be at her incredible best once again.