Lotte Kopecky stormed to her first-ever European time trial title on home soil, delivering a commanding performance to take gold in Hasselt. The Belgian rider covered the 31.2km course in 39 minutes flat, beating former champion Ellen van Dijk by an impressive 43 seconds.
Kopecky, who has become a powerhouse across multiple disciplines, was clear about her strategy after the race, explaining: “It was a very enjoyable time trial. I had a great pace plan that was realistic, and I felt I could push the watts like I wanted to.”
The 2024 European Championships time trial course, starting in Heusden-Zolder and finishing in Hasselt, featured a mix of technical sections and long, straight stretches, allowing Kopecky to build her speed as she progressed. She hit the first checkpoint in 13:25, three seconds faster than Van Dijk, and never looked back. By the second checkpoint, her lead had stretched to 15 seconds, before she powered through the final stretch to extend the gap.
Van Dijk, who started 15th out of 27 riders, initially posted strong times at both intermediate checkpoints and the finish, briefly taking the hot seat. However, Kopecky’s blistering pace soon knocked her off the top spot, with Van Dijk admitting that the Belgian’s performance was untouchable.
Christina Schweinberger of Austria completed the podium, finishing 1:03 behind Kopecky, edging out Tour de Romandie stage winner Riejanne Markus for the bronze medal by just two seconds. Schweinberger, like many others, couldn’t match the pace set by the Belgian rider, who seemed unstoppable on the day.
Kopecky, reflecting on her win, said, “I knew early on that things were going well. At the first checkpoint, I had two seconds on Ellen, and by the second, it was up to 15. At that point, it was about taking the corners carefully and giving everything on the straights.” She added with a smile, “I felt like I still had some reserve left towards the end. It was a really fun race.”
Kopecky’s triumph marks Belgium’s first-ever gold in the elite women’s time trial at the European Championships, and it was a memorable victory for the home crowd. Speaking after the race, Kopecky said, “This is my first European title, and to win it in my own country is wonderful.”
The result also ended a three-year reign by Switzerland’s Marlen Reusser, who did not compete this year. With Kopecky’s versatility and growing strength in time trials, she’s now a clear threat in the discipline moving forward.
As she prepares for the World Championships, Kopecky was already looking ahead, stating: “This title confirms that I made the right decision to focus on the time trial here. The road race will always be a priority, but I’ll definitely be aiming high in the time trial as well.”
Photo Credit: Getty2024 Women’s European Championships Time Trial
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Main photo credit: Getty
