World Champion Lotte Kopecky has responded to recent remarks made by former teammate Demi Vollering, calling them “completely unnecessary” after Vollering claimed their relationship had deteriorated during the latter part of the 2024 season.
Vollering, who has since signed with FDJ-Suez, suggested in an interview with NRC last month that her dynamic with Kopecky shifted following the announcement of her departure from SD Worx-Protime. “I think she [Kopecky] tried to avoid me a bit, she was more focused on herself,” Vollering remarked. The Dutch rider added, “The whole season, when I raced with Lotte, we raced with two plans. A plan for Lotte, a plan for Demi.”
In an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws, Kopecky expressed disappointment at Vollering’s comments. “I think it’s completely unnecessary to start kicking now. Demi should remember that this team has given her a lot,” Kopecky said. “Demi is a really good rider, but this team has brought her to where she is now, and I hope she is very grateful for that. She should show a bit more respect for that.”
Reflecting on their time together in 2024, Kopecky highlighted how their programmes diverged after a challenging spring for Vollering. “During the spring, things didn’t go great for Demi. She was fortunately able to make up for that in the Spanish races afterwards, but I think it’s not my fault that she didn’t perform well earlier,” Kopecky explained. “Afterwards, we rode separate programmes—she aimed for the Tour, while I focused on the Giro and the Olympics.”
Photo Credit: GettyTensions seemingly reached a peak at the Tour de Romandie in September, where the two competed head-to-head for the general classification. Vollering claimed the stage 2 sprint win, but Kopecky ultimately took the overall victory. Vollering alleged that their relationship broke down at this point. “In Romandie, we avoided each other a bit,” she told NRC. “Then I thought: now it’s just over.”
Kopecky, however, recalled a different experience. “The first time we met after the spring was in Romandie, where Demi said she was aiming for the general classification, and I also said I wanted to go for the overall victory. I think that’s where it went wrong for Demi,” she told Het Laatste Nieuws. “I think it’s a shame that she makes these statements because she told me a whole story in Romandie about her wedding plans. So it’s not like we haven’t talked to each other anymore. Maybe her boiling point is just lower than mine?”
Despite the friction, Kopecky expressed her hope for mutual respect as they prepare to face each other as rivals in 2025. “I don’t know what exactly is bothering her. I’ve always had a good relationship with Demi,” she said. “Even after that incident in Strade Bianche 2023, we always laughed about it within the team because we saw it differently to how the media did. I never had the feeling that our relationship was no longer good.”
Photo Credit: GettyKopecky concluded by stating, “I hope that in the future we can still treat each other with respect, at least that’s certainly the case for me. I hope Demi will do that too.”
Looking ahead, Kopecky remains focused on her 2025 goals with SD Worx. She is currently training in Spain, fine-tuning her programme for the upcoming season alongside team manager Danny Stam. While Kopecky hinted at ambitious plans for the Tour de France Femmes, she was quick to downplay expectations. “If I ever win the Tour, I want to do it in a spectacular way and not because they made a course tailor-made for me,” she said.
