We’re not even 100% sure the Giro Donne will actually take place this season, but if it does, there won’t be Lotte Kopecky on the start line. She had the question raised to her at the junior race she took part in at the weekend and Kopecky confirmed the Giro Donne isn’t on her calendar. A press release is due from the Italian Cycling Federation about the latest situation with the stand-off with Giro Donne organisers PMG/Starlight about paying for the live coverage required of the WWT-level race.
A small amount of confusion had been sparked by comments from Lotte Kopecky and team manager Danny Stam that appeared contradictory. Kopecky seemed unsure if she was definitely in the Tour de France Femmes team but this was clarified by Stam who has now said that Kopecky will ride the Tour de France Femmes no matter what. The situation has been a little bit up in the air as Kopecky was down to take part in her local Lotto Belgium Tour stage race but this was cancelled only a week before it was due because of a lack of signalmen able to safely conduct the race on the final 2 stages.
“Because a few races have been cancelled, we have to do a bit of puzzling. In addition, a few of our riders are still uncertain for the coming period due to minor injuries.”
Danny Stam, SD Worx team manager
So it now looks like Kopecky has confirmed to race in France but not Italy. She will also race in the Belgian national championships in the TT and road race. Kopecky has won the TT for each of the last 4 years and had won the road race two years in a row before the shock win of Kim de Baat last year. She’s said herself that the World Championships in Glasgow is a major aim for her 2023 season, potentially on the track as well as the road. Her Madison preparations have been hampered by the withdrawal from racing of Shari Bossuyt.
