Belgian media have confirmed that world champion Lotte Kopecky is in a relationship with former professional rider Axel Merckx, following comments Kopecky made earlier this week in an interview with Sporza.
Kopecky spoke to Sporza during a recorded interview at the Belgian Sports Personality of the Year media commitments, where she was reflecting on her 2025 season. During that conversation, she stated that she was no longer living alone and that she was happy, but deliberately chose not to name her partner. “I don’t come home alone anymore. I’m very happy,” Kopecky said, adding that she did not want her private life to become a separate topic of discussion.
Shortly afterwards, Belgian outlets Het Laatste Nieuws and Dag Allemaal reported that Merckx is her partner, information that was subsequently confirmed to those publications. Neither Kopecky nor Merckx has issued a public statement in response, consistent with Kopecky’s wish to keep the focus on her sporting career.
Merckx, 53, is well known within the sport both for his own racing career and his long-standing role in rider development. The son of Eddy Merckx, Axel Merckx raced professionally from 1993 to 2007. While his career never reached the historic heights of his father’s, he built a respected palmarès of his own. He became Belgian road race champion in 2000, won a stage of the Giro d’Italia that same year, and claimed the bronze medal in the road race at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He also rode multiple Grand Tours and was known as a reliable all-round rider and domestique during his career.
Since retiring, Merckx has remained deeply involved in the sport. He is the founder and team director of Hagens Berman Jayco, one of the most prominent U23 development programmes in men’s cycling, credited with guiding numerous riders towards WorldTour careers. His work in talent development has kept him a regular presence in the professional peloton and at major cycling events.
According to Dag Allemaal, Kopecky and Merckx have been seen together on several occasions over recent months. They were reportedly spotted together at the Belgian National Championships, as well as at the Six Days of Ghent, events where Kopecky was either racing or making official appearances. In late October, both shared images on Instagram from a joint ride at the Zolder circuit, while earlier this month Merckx uploaded a Strava activity showing the pair training together, further fuelling speculation.
The reports also note that Merckx’s previous relationship with Chloé Dygert ended at some point during 2025. Merckx was previously married to former Canadian triathlete Jodi Cross, with whom he has two daughters.
For Kopecky, who continues to be one of the most influential figures in women’s cycling, the message from her Sporza interview was clear. While she is comfortable acknowledging her personal situation, she does not intend to make it part of her public narrative. “We are not planning to share an Instagram post about it,” she said. “It doesn’t need to be an item. But it can be known. That’s no problem.”
As she prepares for another season at the top of the sport, Kopecky’s focus remains firmly on racing, with her private life kept deliberately separate from her professional ambitions.
