After sealing victory at the Tour of Flanders, her second in as many years, Lotte Kopecky told the press that she would afford herself just one day off the bike, before ramping up her preparations for Paris-Roubaix.
“We can go to Roubaix with confidence,” the Belgian said in her winner’s press conference. “Not thinking that we will win the race for sure, I will never do that. It’s a whole new day, a whole new race, and everyone gets a new chance.”
Some people’s chances, though, are better than others. In Flanders, Kopecky proved once again that she, and her team, are a level above the rest of the peloton. For a period in the race, SD Worx counted three of the four riders in the leading group, with UAE Team ADQ’s Silvia Persico joining as an uninvited guest.
When the time came to shake Persic off, Kopecky did so with relative ease. The reigning champion chose the Oude Kwaremont as her launchpad, accelerating beyond the Italian on the slippery cobblestones before stretching out the gap towards the line.
Denne historien er fra April 06, 2023-utgaven av CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 06, 2023-utgaven av CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
UK SCENE WILSON WINS AT CLAYTON SPRING CLASSIC HANDICAP
Junior rider Atkins wins North Road CC 25
"I'm Geraint Thomas," he said politely."And I'm a bike rider"
The Doc salutes the Welshman's staying power and charm
AN EXPERT'S TAKE ON...STRENGTH TRAINING
The need-to-know essentials for cyclists lifting weights - Rob Kemp asks an expert
NOURISH TO FLOURISH
The nutrition you need to age-proof your performance
THE WORLD'S FASTEST DESCENDER
DOWNHILL MAESTRO SAFA BRIAN TELLS MARIA DAVID HOW HE MASTERED THE ART OF DESCENDING TO BECOME FASTER THAN EVERYONE EXCEPT, PERHAPS, TOM PIDCOCK
VISION METRON SL 60
Super-stiff, responsive race wheels that hold their line when the wind whips up
RIDDEN AND REVIEWED GIANT TCR ADVANCED O £3,699
Lively all-rounder that offers pro bike pedigree without the premium price tag
Six days of Paris
This is one of those images that makes you feel almost as though you're there in it, soaking up an atmosphere heavy with embrocation and cigarette smoke, those hanging lamps creating a ghostly glow across the arena.
Alberto Dainese's BMC Teammachine R
We take a close look at the Italian sprinter's Tudor Pro Cycling team bike
Pogačar has fun in the desert
World champion wins UAE Tour overall, with some chaos on the way
