World champion Lotte Kopecky sees the Giro d’Italia Women as a significant part of women’s cycling. Reflecting on her first win in the Giro, Kopecky recalls it as a memorable occasion and looks ahead to this year’s race. “First and foremost, I want to come out of the Giro better than I started it. And not to get sick. By suffering in the eight race days, I hope to take the final step conditionally towards Paris 2024. It will be a kind of tough training block,” she shared. Though she doesn’t have ambitions for the final classification, Kopecky has set intermediate goals, including a stage win.
Team SD Worx-Protime’s Strategy
Sports manager Danny Stam highlighted that their primary focus is on stage wins. “Niamh Fisher-Black might be able to make a nice impact in the last tough mountain stages. Whether she can also ride a good classification remains to be seen,” Stam said. The opening time trial presents a challenging start and might not suit Fisher-Black, but Stam is hopeful she will perform well in the later stages. “Our aim is to race freely. Each may go her own way for stage wins,” he added, predicting an exciting race despite the proximity of the Olympics potentially influencing riders’ strategies.
Olympic Preparations
Stam believes that the Giro, coming just before the Olympics, might see some riders taking a more cautious approach. However, he assures fans that Team SD Worx-Protime will bring open racing to the event. “In the first days, Lotte will find a course that suits her. A stage win in the Giro means a lot.”
