SD Worx sees concerns ahead of the Tour of Flanders and shifts gears: Van der Breggen as extra card for Kopecky

The Tour of Flanders is just around the corner, and the buzz is everywhere. Much has already been said and written about the titanic clash between Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar, and who might be a threat behind them. But when it comes to the women’s race, things have been relatively quiet—despite top-tier riders like Marianne Vos, Elisa Longo Borghini, and Lotte Kopecky also lining up. There are, however, some doubts surrounding Kopecky after her underwhelming performance at Dwars door Vlaanderen.  

All eyes were on Kopecky last Wednesday, especially after Vos pulled out of the Belgian spring classic due to not feeling well. Still, the Belgian world champion couldn’t deliver. She was dropped multiple times on climbs that, compared to the Paterberg or Oude Kwaremont, are relatively minor.

But so far, there’s no major cause for concern. “I assume things will go better on Sunday than they did on the Eikenberg on Wednesday, where I had a weak moment. I looked at my power meter, and the numbers didn’t match the feeling in my legs. For a second, I thought about turning right at the top and heading to the team bus—but apparently, giving up just isn’t in my nature,” the SD Worx rider reflected in Het Laatste Nieuws.

Read more below!

Kopecky in Milan-San Remo, where she helped Wiebes to victory

Sport director Stam expects a strong Kopecky and Wiebes in the Tour of Flanders

Still, things already seemed to be improving the next day. During Thursday’s recon ride of The High Mass, team director Danny Stam saw a strong Kopecky. “I talked with Lotte for a long time on the bike. Nothing from Wednesday seems to have lingered. I saw a good Lotte. She’ll be ready, but that’s no guarantee of victory. It’s not like she can just press a button and the win is hers.”

And if the Belgian rider—who has already won the Tour of Flanders twice—isn’t at her best, the team still has another ace up their sleeve: Lorena Wiebes. “In the past, Lorena struggled with some of the cobbled climbs, but she used to have issues with the Kemmelberg too, and that wasn’t a problem in Gent–Wevelgem on Sunday. I think Lorena can hang on for a long time this Sunday—and even if she does get dropped, the gap to the front of the race will never be big.”

Read more below!

Van der Breggen, an extra asset for Kopecky in the Tour of Flanders

Van der Breggen to provide key support for Kopecky

On the road to victory in the High Mass, the team has added Anna van der Breggen to the lineup. “Anna wasn’t originally scheduled to race, but we wanted to have a strong rider with us who has the ability to bring someone back late in the finale. With Anna in a supporting role, our team is complete,” said team director Stam.

But the real top favorite, according to the Dutch team director, is Elisa Longo Borghini, who claimed an impressive victory in Dwars door Vlaanderen last Wednesday. “If Elisa is on form, it’s going to be tough. But there’s a headwind in the final kilometers at the moment, and that works against her if she goes for a solo.”

Read more below!

Longo Borghini soloed to victory in Dwars door Vlaanderen

Ine Beyen thinks Kopecky can forget about winning the Tour of Flanders

If it’s up to Ine Beyen, Kopecky can forget about winning a third Tour of Flanders. “Lotte was poorly positioned twice on a cobbled section, and that’s very un-Kopecky-like. And on the climbs, she was dropped at one point. She really wasn’t in good shape. I don’t know exactly what’s wrong—and I don’t think she does either. You could see the worry in her eyes during the post-race interview.”

“She was looking for a confidence boost going into the Tour of Flanders, and she didn’t get it,” the Belgian analyst continued in Het Nieuwsblad. “On the contrary. At no point did she show the sharpness she usually brings to a race. Mischa Bredewold was still with her in the group, but she didn’t even let her go in the chase. She must have already felt she wasn’t going to win.”

Read also

Pogacar understands Vollering's reaction and supports van Aert: "It's the cancer of our current society"

Tadej Pogacar analyzes Mathieu van der Poel, but says: "If I can choose between staying home with Urska or racing against Mathieu, I would rather stay home"

EF sports director after Powless beat van Aert: "They know Neilson well at Visma, they are familiar with all his data"

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get every week the latest news about CYCLING in your inbox!

Subscribe