Fresh from her triumphant ride at the World Championships in Glasgow, Lotte Kopecky donned her new rainbow jersey and raced to victory at the Schaal Sels in Merksem, Antwerp. This marked Kopecky’s first public appearance in Belgium after securing three world titles on the road and track. The win reinforced her message that her appetite for success is far from being sated.
Kopecky had taken some time off following her win, swapping her cycling kit for a wetsuit as she spent some leisurely time surfing on the Belgian coast. “Batteries recharged,” she proclaimed in Merksem. Kopecky attributes her phenomenal season to gruelling training. “Everything I’ve achieved this season is the result of very hard work,” she said. She also clarified that her season is far from over. She has her sights set on the Simac Ladies Tour and the European Road Championships. The European title is one of the few accolades missing from her already stellar road cycling résumé.
Last week’s Etten-Leur criterion also saw her in the coveted rainbow jersey, a sight Kopecky described as more fulfilling than she’d anticipated. “Winning in the rainbow jersey does more than I expected. It’s nice to be able to give something back to all the people who welcomed me here so enthusiastically,” she added.
Kopecky’s win made her the dream winner of Schaal Sels, living up to the expectations that come with being a world champion. She led the sprint to beat her closest competitors, further solidifying her standing as Belgium’s latest cycling sensation. It appears that Kopecky’s career is an open road ahead, with more victories seemingly just around the bend.
Britain’s Jo Tindley finished 2nd ahead of Tiffany Keep to round out the podium
2023 Schaal Sels result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
