"I got goosebumps just like Lotte!" - young Belgian talent Hélène Hesters tells about the crowds in Ghent and racing with the World Champion

She herself was very impressed by the warm welcome in 't Kuipke: Lotte Kopecky was imperially embraced by the Ghent public on Friday and Saturday during the Six Days. Colleagues Hélène Hesters and Katrijn De Clercq enjoyed it and are full of praise for the leading lady of Belgian women's cycling.

"It was great fun," De Clercq told Sporza, who might ride the team race with Kopecky in Paris. "It's great that Lotte was here. This way we could also enjoy it. We train with her, but when she is present, it's still something like: 'Wow, Lotte is here too!'"

"I've only been cycling for 3 years and here I am: I got goosebumps just like Lotte!" added 18-year-old Hesters. "It was more than overwhelming and I learned a lot. To be able to ride behind that rainbow jersey... It's a bit of a dream to one day ride in that jersey myself."

Kopecky played with the pedals. "That power, wow... She is such a talent. And in Glasgow I participated in the World Championhips with the professionals. Lotte welcomed me there with open arms. She is super cool."