Kopecky is back: "Which favourites I see? I think we can rely on our own strength in the first place"

Lotte Kopecky is finally starting her cycling season. The two-time world champion from SD Worx-Protime goes straight to the first edition of Milan-Sanremo for women, where she obviously wants to go for the win. "I'm just back from altitude training, so we'll have to see if I respond to that challenge right away or not," she says, still somewhat unsure about her form.

"I haven't raced for a long time, so there was no lack of motivation," Kopecky begins her story through her team's channels. "Of course I followed the races closely. It was nice to see how well our team was doing. Great results have already been achieved. As I watched, I naturally started itching more and more to get back into it too. It was all nice to arrive in Italy at Team SD Worx-Protime, you feel the team is in a good flow."

"What I expect from Milan -Sanremo? First of all, I want to say that it is really an asset to have this race added to the calendar. It is a first edition since the Primavera Rosa disappeared from the calendar. Estimating how the race will go is therefore extra difficult. Anyway, I think the course is successful. Some say the number of kilometres could have been higher, but I don't agree. Whether the course was 200 kilometres, or like now 160: the difference will definitely be made. For such a first Milan-Sanremo, I think it's okay for now. This is a nice distance to start with."

"So I am happy with the course. I have already explored the Cipressa and Poggio. The wind will play an important role on Saturday. Everyone also starts from the scenarios in the men's race when trying to estimate how things will go in the women's. But it remains to be seen how the climbs will be approached. And the downhill will also be important. I myself am quite a good descender," the Flemish woman says.

Read more below the photo!

Kopecky: "With Wiebes, we still have a good chance of winning"

"Which favourites I see? I think we can rely on our own strength in the first place. We have a strong team at the start with riders who are in good shape. With Lorena Wiebes, we have another good card to play for the win. In addition, Demi Vollering, Elisa Longo-Borghini, Marianne Vos and Puck Pieterse are the main names that can be written down as favourites," said Kopecky.

So she has little or no frame of reference. "In any case, it remains to be seen what feeling I will have in the race on Saturday. That's always the case with a first race. I come back from altitude training, so it remains to be seen whether I react to that stimulus straight away or not. But as I said: I am very much looking forward to it. I am starting later this season because I wanted to be good in the Ardennes classics. I hope by racing a bit later, I can continue the form until Liège-Bastogne-Liège."

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