Lotte Kopecky has been named the best female cyclist of the year, claiming the prestigious Vélo d’Or for the first time in her career. The 29-year-old Belgian world champion, who had finished second in 2022 and 2023, was awarded the honour by Vélo Magazine, following a standout season.
A separate Vélo d’Or for women has only been awarded for three years, with Kopecky previously edged out by Annemiek van Vleuten in 2022 and Demi Vollering in 2023. This time, a panel of international journalists deemed her remarkable 2024 campaign worthy of the top prize.
In a video message recorded during her team’s training camp in Finland, Kopecky expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am very happy and proud to win this Vélo d’Or. I need to thank so many people. Those who are close to me know how grateful I am—my family, my friends, and also my teammates.” Smiling, she added, “Last year, I came close to this prize, but now I have it. I’m truly very happy with it and already looking forward to next season.”
A season to remember
Kopecky’s 2024 season was packed with major victories and consistent performances. She claimed 16 wins on the road, including triumphs in high-profile races such as Paris-Roubaix, Strade Bianche, and Nokere Koerse. She also dominated stage races, winning the UAE Tour, the Tour of Britain, the Simac Ladies Tour, and the Tour van Romandië.
Her versatility shone through with her Belgian road and time trial titles, Olympic bronze in the road race in Paris, and the European time trial title in Hasselt. The crowning achievement, however, came in Zurich, where she captured her second road world championship title on 28th September.
To cap off the year, Kopecky finished as the world’s number one-ranked rider.
Double honours
In addition to the Vélo d’Or, Kopecky was awarded the Trofee Eddy Merckx for the second consecutive year. The accolade, recognising the best classics rider in the peloton, was introduced just last year.
Reflecting on her accolades and 2024 as a whole, Kopecky concluded, “This has been an unforgettable year. I’m really happy, and it motivates me to aim for even more next season.”
