Lotte Kopecky made history on Sunday by securing her third victory at the Tour of Flanders, becoming the first woman to achieve the feat. The Belgian cyclist, wearing her world champion kit, was the center of attention in her home country, with chants of “Ohhhh Lotte Kopecky” echoing through the crowds as she triumphed in one of cycling’s most prestigious races.
Reflecting on the overwhelming support, Kopecky told Sporza, “It was enormous. Sometimes I think the other riders can’t hear my name anymore, but it’s fantastic.”
The victory marked another milestone in Kopecky’s illustrious career, solidifying her status as a dominant force in the Classics. She weathered a series of attacks on the Oude Kwaremont, eventually forming a breakaway with Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike), Liane Lippert (Movistar), and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM). In the final 300 meters, Kopecky surged ahead to out-sprint her rivals, clinching the win.
Despite the significance of her third Tour of Flanders title, Kopecky remained humble, saying, “That [the record] doesn’t mean that much. I am super happy that I was able to win today in the white jersey and white shorts. That means more to me than that third time.”
This victory was a welcome one for the SD Worx-Protime rider, as it marked her first win of the season after a series of near-misses. Following a disappointing performance at Dwars door Vlaanderen last week and working in lead-out roles for teammates Lorena Wiebes at both San Remo Women and Gent-Wevelgem, Kopecky’s confidence had been shaken. “That wasn’t a nice feeling. That plays in your head and I had doubts. But I trusted my experience,” she shared.
Kopecky’s resilience was on full display as she overcame a shaky start to the race. Early on, the pace was cautious, and it took time for the breakaway to form. With few teams eager to take charge, Kopecky’s determination kept her in contention. “This feels really good,” she said after the race. “It was a crazy race, with a lot of crashes in the opening phase. That was really nervous. At first, I didn’t have the best feeling, but I stayed calm, and my legs started to feel better. Then I knew I had a good chance. Once we were four up, I was really confident about winning.”
For Kopecky, the pivotal moment came on the Kruisberg. “Mentally, the Kruisberg was a crucial moment. I felt that the group was getting thinner and thinner,” she explained. “When we were four after the Kwaremont, I knew that I only had to survive the Paterberg. Then we could go to the finish with four. That’s when I knew I could win again.”
Looking ahead, Kopecky is already focused on her next challenge: Paris-Roubaix Femmes. The upcoming race offers her the chance to make history once more, with the Belgian poised to become the first woman to win both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in the same season. However, as Kopecky put it with a grin, there’s “no pressure.”
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