World champion and two-time Tour of Flanders winner Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) picked out defending champion Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Staff ADQ) as her key rival on Sunday.
In addition to name-checking the Italian, Kopecky was balanced about her personal possibilities in De Ronde, motivated however sincere in regards to the totally different preparation she’s had this yr, with different objectives additional down the road.
In 2024, the Belgian was denied the possibility to win Flanders for a document third time, and within the rainbow jersey, after a storming efficiency from Longo Borghini. The Italian proved her personal type this week by profitable Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday with a late solo transfer.
“She all the time was [a top favourite] for me,” Kopecky instructed the Dutch press on Thursday.
“I had already seen some robust issues from her in Gent-Wevelgem. She was already on the high for me anyway. I’m not placing myself there. However I can all the time gamble on my dash within the closing, one thing that not all riders can do.”
Kopecky appeared to battle in her closing Flanders warm-up race, the Dwars door Vlaanderen, faltering in key moments and ending up on the again foot for a lot of the day, earlier than discovering a closing wind to dash to second.
On Wednesday, Kopecky did not have many solutions as to why she had struggled – “I’m not precisely certain what brought on it. The legs simply weren’t there” – however was fast to maneuver on from any considerations forward of Sunday.
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“I should not focus an excessive amount of on that,” she stated. “Final yr I had an off day in Flanders and gained Roubaix the week after. Issues can change shortly.”
Nevertheless, she did replicate on the totally different run-in to Flanders she’s had this yr, and the way which may be affecting her type.
The Belgian solely began her season two weeks in the past, at Milan-San Remo, a lot later than she’s debuted in earlier years. She’s additionally made Liège-Bastogne-Liège a goal, which means she could also be seeking to peak later within the season.
“I do really feel that I’ve had a very totally different winter and now I solely have three days of competitors in my legs,” she stated. “I believe that’s the greatest distinction.”
“I believe that previously I usually felt actually good once I had raced loads within the spring, then took a little bit of relaxation after which labored in direction of the subsequent races.”
In actual fact, the truth that Kopecky has been engaged on her climbing over the winter, however continues to be capable of dash with the easiest, is a optimistic signal for her Classics marketing campaign.
“Anyway, there’s nonetheless three extra weeks of the spring,” she continued. “There are nonetheless loads of races to come back, so I’m not apprehensive.”
Profitable within the rainbow jersey can also be actually further motivation for the Belgian rider, who has already gained Flanders within the nationwide champion’s jersey.
“It might be very particular if that will work,” she stated. “That will be a really good picture in any case. That’s in my thoughts, sure. Final yr it did not work, hopefully we will change that now.”
The Wiebes query
Final yr, SD Worx-Protime got here to Flanders with virtually 4 leaders or potential winners, in Kopecky, Lorena Wiebes, Marlen Reusser and Demi Vollering. With Vollering and Reusser now on totally different groups, their management pool is barely smaller, however they nonetheless come to the race with choices.
A kind of is Wiebes, who has gained Milan-San Remo, Brugge-De Panne and Gent-Wevelgem in latest weeks. Although the Dutchwoman has performed down her possibilities at going for Flanders victory, Kopecky nonetheless views her presence as a tactical benefit, and another choice for the win.
“It is extra as much as the opposition than me to do away with Wiebes,” she stated of the truth that nobody will wish to take the ultra-fast Wiebes to the road in Oudenaarde.
“That may undoubtedly turn into an element that each one groups should take note of. Conversely, it additionally makes it simpler if I am in entrance and Wiebes behind. No person desires to let Wiebes come again, so that they should hold driving with me. That is the energy of this crew.”
In addition to Wiebes, Kopecky will look to the returning Anna van der Breggen – who gained this race in 2018 – Mischa Bredewold and Blanka Vas as help on Sunday, although the crew’s line-up will not be but official.
“We have now a number of playing cards to play. That could be very good for me,” she stated.
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