In-form Vos looks all set for battle against Kopecky: "Lotte is the woman to beat"
Cycling
Comeback kid Marianne Vos is having a strong spring season. After winning the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Dwars door Vlaanderen was also well within her grasp, making her one of the top favorites for the Tour of Flanders. At the press conference of her team, Visma | Lease a Bike, she previewed Flanders' Finest alongside Fem van Empel.
"I'm feeling good," she started at the Ghelamco Arena - the stadium of the football club KAA Gent - where IDLProCycling.com was also present. "My performance in Dwars door Vlaanderen has given me confidence. But the Tour is really something else. I'm healthily nervous at the start. Anything can happen in the Flemish classics. You have to be continuously alert. I hope to be in contention in the finale and aim for a good result."
Vos bounces back after surgery
It's clear that the 36-year-old rider - who is making her twelfth appearance in the High Mass of cycling - is fully back after having to end her season in August due to a trapped iliac artery and the corresponding surgery. "I'm fully fit again after my surgery. It feels amazing to be contending for wins again."
When asked if she sees herself as a serious contender, she answers cautiously. "There are several favorites. As a team, we want to make our presence felt. Everything needs to go our way, but we're going for it. I know the area quite well."
Kopecky the favorite according to Vos, Van Empel makes her debut
Many view Lotte Kopecky - the world champion riding for SD Worx-Protime - as the outright favorite. "Lotte has been very dominant over the last two years," Vos commented. "It will be no different this Sunday. She is the woman to beat. And there's more. Lidl-Trek is also starting with a strong team. And we want to play to our strengths," she emphasizes again the importance of teamwork and collective strength.
Van Empel, who had to miss Gent-Wevelgem due to illness but participated in Dwars door Vlaanderen, also spoke up. "Unfortunately, I couldn't start in Gent-Wevelgem due to illness. Luckily, things went quite well on Wednesday. Sunday will be my first Tour of Flanders. I'm really looking forward to it. The course should suit me well."
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024