Lotte Kopecky will experience Sunday’s World Championship time trial as the brand new European Champion, with the arrogance of her newest title and the need to win one other.
The 28-year-old Belgian is the outgoing street race world champion however has an actual likelihood to grow to be the primary Belgian lady to win the time trial world title.
Her largest rivals embody Grace Brown of Australia, Ellen Van Dijk and Demi Vollering of the Netherlands and the USA’s Chloé Dygert. Kopecky beat Van Dijk by 43 seconds simply ten days in the past on a flat Limburg circuit and has discovered some wonderful end-of-season type.
“The European Championship was vital for me,” Kopecky stated within the Belgian pre-race press convention on the workforce lodge, half-hour exterior of Zurich.
“The time trial on the Paris Video games additionally felt good regardless of my fall and the European Championships confirmed my development. I hope it continues on the World Championships.
“I will attempt to comply with the plan we have drawn up however the type on the day determines so much. I would be very pleased with a podium place, that is what I’ve set my sights on, however the latest European Championship gave me confidence. I feel a podium is certainly doable if I’ve an excellent day.”
The 29.9km Zurich course has a rolling first half and the two.4km gradual climb to Uetikon am See, which additionally marks the primary intermediate time examine.
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“A climb in a giant time trial is one thing new to me however it’s not an obstacle,” Kopecky stated.
She rode the time trial course on Friday and can return for the official closed-road reconnaissance on Saturday.
“It’s not tremendous technical, actually not the start and finish, however there are two or three powerful climbs with quick descents that you must experience rigorously however at excessive pace, even on some blind spots,” she stated.
Kopecky is multi-talented and raced on the street and observe on the Paris Olympics and is on a journey of discovery in time trials as she works to enhance. She has gained Strade Bianche, the Tour of Flanders, the Tour de France phases and the classification at different stage races and is aware of that point trials are important for stage race success and even a shot on the GC of the Tour de France Femmes.
She has the bodily skills and simply wants additional time trial expertise. She has improved considerably since profitable six consecutive time trial titles on the Belgian Championships throughout her profession and ending fifth within the 2023 European Championships and third within the 2023 Tour de France Femmes time trial.
She is presently the reigning Belgian and European Champion in 2024.
“I’ve by no means been on my time trial bike as a lot as prior to now few months. I’m beginning to get pleasure from it an increasing number of,” she defined.
“I am not the favorite, I feel the world title will go to Chloé Dygert, who can even experience effectively on the climb. or possibly Grace Brown, too. I embody Demi Vollering among the many podium candidates however hope to be amongst them, too.”
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