"Twelve hours of flying for one omnium is a bit too crazy" - Lotte Kopecky turned down invite to Olympic preparation event in Hong Kong

The current women's road race world champion and star of the Team SD Worx - ProTime squad, Lotte Kopecky is also a very accomplished track cyclist.

The Belgian is set to be a viable gold medal contender at this summer's Olympic Games in Paris but after finishing second to Elisa Balsamo at Trofeo Alfredo Binda last weekend, Kopecky explained why she chose the one-day race instead of Olympic preparation at the Nations Cup track cycling event in Hong Kong (March 15-17 ed.)

"My place in the Olympic omnium in Paris is 99% certain," Kopecky explains in quotes collected by In de Leiderstrui. "A few countries that have absolutely no chance on paper will have to win the remaining Nations Cups for things to go wrong. So it is wise not to make the trip. Twelve hours of flying for one omnium is a bit too crazy for words."

Next up for Kopecky is Gent Wevelgem on March 24th. "I will fill this week with some serious training. Once Gent Wevelgem is coming, it's mainly about racing and freshening up," she concludes. ''It is indeed expected that I will win all the races that I have won in recent years again this year, but both the team and I know very well that something like that does not just happen. It is anything but a guarantee."