The underlying cause of Lotte Kopecky’s interrupted preparation this winter has finally come to light. After weeks of rumours swirling about a potential running injury, her team SD Worx-Protime confirmed that a forgotten crash during the final stages of the 2024 Simac Ladies Tour triggered persistent knee problems that severely affected her off-season training.
Kopecky had hinted at physical issues earlier this spring, notably after the Amstel Gold Race, where she spoke of a disrupted winter without offering full details. Now, SD Worx-Protime has explained that the reigning world champion’s troubles began the moment she resumed training post-crash. “The knee problems started flaring up as soon as Lotte restarted her training,” the team revealed. “It took some time before the correct diagnosis was made, and during that period, she faced a stop-start winter — a story of being on and off the bike.”
This inconsistency inevitably compromised her fitness base. While Kopecky managed to maintain her race programme — debuting her season at Milan-Sanremo as planned — her physical condition never quite reached the level that made her almost untouchable during parts of 2023 and 2024. “Fortunately, the knee problems were completely resolved by the start of the season,” SD Worx-Protime stressed, but the damage to her winter preparation was already done.
Photo Credit: GettyThe fluctuating form was visible across the spring, even if Kopecky still found ways to shine. Her crowning moment came with a hard-fought victory at the Tour of Flanders, a result she now values even more given the hidden difficulties she faced. Reflecting honestly after Liège-Bastogne-Liège, she said, “If I look at how my winter unfolded, I should be very happy with my win in the Ronde van Vlaanderen. Although I didn’t reach my top form this spring, I’m pleased with the positive trend I’ve noticed in recent weeks.”
Rather than dwell on what might have been, Kopecky plans to channel her frustrations into renewed motivation. She will now take a short period of “relative rest” to recover from a demanding classics campaign before building towards her major summer targets. “After a week of recovery, I’ll resume my preparation. I’m super motivated for the busy summer ahead, especially with the Tour de France Femmes on the horizon,” she added, her focus already shifting towards the end of July when the next major chapter of her season begins.
Although her spring campaign was not as dominant as some had forecast, Kopecky’s resilience — managing injuries, setbacks, and expectations — has been evident. With a cleaner run-in to the summer, the world champion is determined to show the best version of herself when it matters most.
Main photo credit: Cor Vos
