Lotte Kopecky’s bid for a third consecutive world title remains in doubt, with Belgian national coach Ludwig Willems confirming she has not yet committed to racing in Rwanda next month. The defending champion has stepped away from public life since the Tour de France Femmes, taking a break from competition and media demands after what Willems described as a mentally taxing period.
“Lotte has to be able to recharge her mental batteries,” Willems said. “After the Tour I deliberately didn’t contact her because there were already so many people pulling at her sleeve. In the Tour itself, she was asked every day what was wrong and had to give a public explanation. Sometimes it’s important to disconnect and come back to yourself. We mustn’t underestimate how much has come her way in recent years – if she wanted, she could make an appearance somewhere every single day.”
Kopecky herself has cited the cumulative strain of recent seasons as a possible factor in her Tour difficulties. A disrupted winter due to a knee injury and a shift in training towards a Tour de France general classification campaign combined to leave her “chasing all season,” Willems noted. While she took an impressive win at the Tour of Flanders, her form in July fell short of expectations.
For Willems, this is not a crisis but a phase from which Kopecky can recover. “It’s possible she had a rebound effect after the Tour, but Lotte is exactly the kind of rider who learns from setbacks. I remember her first Tour, when she arrived with big expectations and wanted a stage win. That didn’t happen, but she bounced back very quickly. Mentally, it’s tough even for a big champion, but she is very resilient and always wants to come back stronger.”
Whether Kopecky can prepare in a short time for the Worlds is harder to gauge. Willems believes the positive finish to her Tour – in sporting terms, if not emotionally – could be a springboard, but says the decision rests with her. “That mental switch is something she has to make herself. Lotte is quite introverted, someone who likes to handle and process things on her own. But if needed, we are here for her.”
In their last meetings during the Tour’s closing weekend, Willems made no concrete plans regarding the Worlds. “The only thing we agreed was that she would have all the time and space she needed to put everything in place. She would let me know what the plans are, but I haven’t had confirmation yet. I’m not going to tell Lotte she must do this or that – she’s free to decide.”
Despite the uncertainty, Willems remains optimistic. The women’s race in Rwanda, unlike the men’s, will be held on a classic-style circuit, although repeated climbs will create significant elevation gain. “I think riders who shine in the Flemish Classics or Amstel Gold Race will be the ones fighting for the win in Rwanda – and that includes Lotte.”
