Belgium has been waiting a long time for a victory at the Tour de France. In the men's race, Lucien van Impe was the last cyclist from the cycling nation to finish at the top of the most important cycling race. In the women's race, there has never been a Belgian woman at the top of the podium in the still young and short history of the women's competition. That could change this year at the 4th edition of the Tour de France Femmes (26 July to 3 August 2025). Because Belgian world champion Lotte Kopecky has big plans. "I've already finished the Tour in second place, without proper preparation. We'll see how it goes when I set myself the target," said Kopecky before the start of the season. "We have agreed that Lotte wants to concentrate on the Tour de France," says Danny Stam, sporting director of SD Worx-Protime. This focus is new.
Twice world champion, but also strong in the mountains
In last year's Giro d'Italia, she was unstoppable on the long and steep Blockhaus climb against the eventual overall winner Elisa Longo Borghini. She also finished second overall in Italy. The Flemish rider then decided not to compete in the Tour so that she could take her time to prepare for the Olympic Games in Paris. She then took bronze in the road race and finished fourth in the omnium track event.
Lotte Kopecky: Planned start of the season at Milan-San Remo
Kopecky plans to ride her first race of the season unusually late, on 22 March - at Milan-San Remo, where there is a competition for women for the first time in 20 years. Kopecky explains the late start with the fact that she wants to start the Tour de France as fresh as possible. This year, she wants to forgo the season opener in Belgium and Strade Bianche. After the classics (starts at the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne-Liège are planned), the full focus will be on the Tour. For the first time, Kopecky wants to complete an altitude training camp in Livigno. With a major success in France, she could spark greater enthusiasm for women's cycling in her home country. Unlike in her neighbouring country, the Netherlands, the focus in Belgium is almost exclusively on the men - Kopecky is currently the only world-class female racer in the cycling nation. "Women's cycling in Belgium is not big. But we are getting stronger. I want to be an example for the next generation in Belgium," emphasises the world champion.
Internal rivalry with Anna van der Breggen?
The role of leader has become vacant because Dutch rider Demi Vollering, who won France 2023 in the jersey of SD Worx - Protime, has moved on to the French team FDJ-SUEZ. The question remains as to how the team plans to deal with Anna van der Breggen, who has made a comeback after a long break. "Is she an ideal team-mate or the new internal rival for Lotte Kopecky?" asked the Belgian daily newspaper "Het Nieuwsblad" after the Dutchwoman delivered a very strong season debut.
Andreas Kublik
Editor
