SD Worx-Protime remains confident in Kopecky, but eyes new GC leader
With the Tour de France Femmes heading into its final weekend, SD Worx-Protime is reflecting on a race that has brought both success and challenges. Lorena Wiebes has already claimed two impressive sprint victories, but in the battle for the general classification, the team’s impact has been modest so far - and it is already looking ahead at how to strengthen in that area for the future.
Anna van der Breggen remains in GC contention after six stages. But before the race began, she acknowledged that the level required in the mountains may now be just out of reach. Team hopes had also been pinned on Lotte Kopecky, but the world champion has openly struggled in the opening stages. “The feeling isn’t great and that’s frustrating,” she admitted after stage 2. “I wanted to start strong here, but it all went wrong.”
Kopecky, typically at ease on selective courses, hasn’t featured in the finales and has described the mental toll of underperforming in the rainbow jersey as “difficult.” She added, “The fun factor is very important to me, and it’s a bit lacking at the moment.” With her personal ambitions on hold, Kopecky has shifted to a support role. “I’ll have to put my personal ambitions aside,” she said.
Despite that, the Belgian star remains central to the team’s future plans. “Riders aren’t robots,” said team CEO Erwin Janssen to Het Nieuwsblad. “Lotte has worked incredibly hard - more than ever - to be at her best for the Tour. It didn’t turn out the way we hoped. After the Tour, we’ll evaluate everything with her management. Did we make the wrong choices? Did we, as a team, make mistakes? What can we learn from this? But we’ll do that with a clear head, not in the emotion of the moment.”
Janssen was quick to shut down any long-term doubts. “Every great champion has a down moment - even Pogačar. We’ve told her that. Lotte is under contract until 2028 and remains our figurehead. We’re incredibly happy with her. After the Tour, she needs to clear her mind. Then we’ll build a new plan. There are still races to be won this season.”
Still, Kopecky might not be the only rider the team will count on for stage races in the future. With former GC leader Demi Vollering leaving the team last winter, SD Worx-Protime is looking to rebuild its strength in the mountains.
“We’re still the strongest team in the Classics, I’m convinced of that,” Janssen said. “But we were used to competing for the overall in Grand Tours as well. That’s not the case right now. So we’ll need to invest to strengthen ourselves in the mountains. No big name has signed yet, but we’re working on it.”
Janssen also pointed to shifting economics in women’s cycling. As sponsor interest and media coverage grow, team budgets are expanding across the peloton. “People are finally starting to see the potential of women’s cycling in terms of media attention and sponsor value. For a long time we had the second-largest budget in the peloton. Now we’ve dropped to fourth.”
And while the Tour de France Femmes has exposed some gaps, SD Worx-Protime’s GC ambitions remain very much alive.
