Lotte Kopecky misses out at Gravel World Championships: “Marianne was just super strong”

Fresh off her victory in Zurich last weekend, where she claimed her second consecutive women’s road race world title, 28-year-old Lotte Kopecky was back in action on home soil in Belgium. Competing in the Gravel World Championships in Leuven, Kopecky delivered an impressive performance but ultimately missed out on the gold medal, losing to none other than the legendary Marianne Vos, who added another title to her illustrious career.

The race in Leuven was a new experience for Kopecky, and despite showing her usual strength, she faced challenges on the rugged gravel terrain. Reflecting on the race, Kopecky shared with Wielerflits, “It was something completely different from what I was used to. It was fun, but when I was alone in front with Marianne, my back started to explode. I tried to relieve some of the tension, but it was horrible. I think it was because of all the holes in the road that you have to catch. It was quite painful.”

Kopecky made an effort to take control on the climbs but found Vos to be in formidable form. “I tried to put some pressure on the climb, but Marianne was also just super strong. The last few days I wasn't 100 percent fit. I'm glad that it went well today,” she added.

Although she didn’t take home the gold, Kopecky’s silver medal in her first-ever gravel race is an incredible achievement. The Belgian star may well be tempted to explore more gravel racing in the future, having already proven herself on the world stage in this new discipline.

With both her road and gravel success, Kopecky continues to cement her reputation as one of the most versatile and talented riders in women’s cycling.