1st, 2nd, 3rd, 14th, 4th, 3rd, 6th and another 3rd. These are the impressive results of Lotte Kopecky in the Tour de France Femmes.
“I never thought beforehand that I would be second in the final classification,” says the leading lady of Belgian women’s cycling with Maarten and Marijn after the final stage in Pau.
“I came here with the idea of winning a stage. But everything that happened this week… Green is nice, but winning that first stage and wearing the yellow jersey was the best thing.”
After the finish in Pau, Kopecky was very emotional. “I do have that at such moments, especially when I see people who mean a lot to me and to whom I owe a lot.”
Anyone who can finish second in the Tour should also be able to win? However? “I’m not concerned with that at all,” Kopecky is honest.
“I am very happy with the rider I am at the moment. My heart is with the classics and it will remain there for a while. I will not do crazy things and I will not focus on climbing.”
“On Saturday I had no expectations at all towards the Tourmalet. When Demi Vollering went, the acceleration was too much. But when I heard that I was still in front of the podium, I still kept on and gave everything. It was a very crazy ride and I didn’t really understand what I was doing.”
“I didn’t worry at all in the time trial. I didn’t even know until the podium that I was second instead of third.”
After the time trial, Kopecky shared her happiness with Tour winner Vollering. The two get along very well and everything that is said and written is not much to it. “The media is trying to stir things up, but I can really say with heart and soul that we are a very good group,” said Kopecky.
“It’s really nice to share these moments with her.”
Vollering will of course be Kopecky’s biggest competitor at the World Championship road race in Glasgow in 2 weeks. “We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and those are things that we will of course use in the game.”
Has anyone talked about the World Cup yet? “Almost the entire team is at the start of the World Cup. Not much has been said about this this week, and it’s a good thing.”
Kopecky doesn’t have much time to recover from this Tour. From Sunday she is already aiming for world titles on the track in Glasgow. “I am in itself someone who gets better after a few days of “taper” (relative rest, ed.). A moped training is scheduled on Thursday and on Friday I hope to have the fresh feeling in my legs again.”
Did you miss the last episode of Maarten & Marijn? Do not panic. On this page you can watch them all again via VRT Max.
