Julia Kopecky is grappling with a challenging start to her debut season with SD Worx-Protime, having been sidelined since the end of January due to a knee inflammation. The 20-year-old rider, who previously showcased her talent with a remarkable performance in 2024, is currently recovering at her home in Leiden. “It’s frustrating that the start isn’t as hoped, but the season is still long and I feel a lot of support from the team,” she shared with WielerFlits.
Kopecky made the switch from AG Insurance-Soudal to the prominent SD Worx-Protime team after an impressive year. Notably, she won the Tour de Feminin and made her Olympic debut at just 19. “I already knew by the end of June that I would be riding for SD Worx-Protime in 2025 when I got a message from Danny Stam,” she explained. The team had been tracking her progress, especially after her second-place finish at the Time Trial Omloop van Borsele behind Ellen van Dijk.
However, following a fall in the time trial, her career trajectory took a hit, resulting in her missing the Tour de l’Avenir Femmes. Additionally, a ruptured posterior cruciate ligament kept her out of competition for two months post-European Championships in September. “Since I had to rehabilitate from September, my start with SD Worx-Protime hasn’t been perfect,” Kopecky admitted.
Despite these setbacks, Kopecky has felt warmly welcomed by her new teammates. “There is really a family feeling in the team. We even went to Lapland together to work on team cohesion. It’s quite strange to suddenly be having breakfast with the best riders in the world. That’s also a bit exciting because you don’t know how those riders see you. But everyone is super nice and helpful; they all give me tips,” she reflected.
During the training camp in December, Kopecky participated in three to three-and-a-half-hour training sessions, which built her optimism for the upcoming season. She had planned to compete in several key races, including the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, Dwars door het Hageland, Le Samyn, and Nokere Koerse. Unfortunately, her knee pain has postponed those plans. “I fell on both knees at the European Championships in 2024. My left knee felt stable, but there was apparently a slight overload. I just need to take it easy and definitely not force anything. I hope to be racing again soon, but I don’t know when that will be,” she stated.
Initially, Kopecky aimed for a comeback in early April, yet her knee currently requires significant attention. “Unfortunately, I still don’t have a date for my first race. I am slowly starting to build up again, but it’s still unclear how long that will take,” she concluded, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding her recovery.
