Belgian cyclist Lotte Kopecky, seven-time world champion, will not compete in the next Tour de France, from August 12 to 18, to devote herself exclusively to the Paris Olympic Games, her team, SD Worx, announced on Tuesday April 23.
“Too much mental load”
The Tour de France will start from Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, on August 12, the day after the Olympic event, the track omnium, where the Flemish rider is aiming for the gold medal. According to the Dutch team’s sports manager, Danny Stam, “combining the two events would involve too much mental load”. Nervous impulses, excitement of a possible Olympic victory, “it will be impossible for him to go to Rotterdam in the evening”, he continued. Kopecky is, since Liège-Bastogne-Liège, first in the ranking of the International Cycling Union (UCI).
Kopecky hosted the 2023 edition of the Grande Boucle 2023. His track record: a stage victory, the green jersey and second place overall after wearing the yellow jersey for six days.
READ ALSO. Cycling. Lotte Kopecky will go to the Giro to prepare for the Olympic Games
This year 2024 has been rich in success for the Belgian cyclist. She won the Strade Bianche and Parix-Roubaix. In order to best prepare for the Games, she will take part in the Tour of England, from June 6 to 9, and the Giro from July 7 to 14.
