‘Take away Flanders and it’s dramatic - Lotte Kopecky reflects on injury-hit 2025 season

The 30-year-old SD Worx-Protime rider endured a season filled with setbacks including winter knee problems, back issues that forced her to abandon the Giro, a disappointing Tour de France, and a vertebra fracture that prevented her from competing at the Track World Championships.

"It's a double feeling," Kopecky said to Het Nieuwsblad about receiving Belgium's prestigious cycling award. "I'm always super proud to win such a trophy, but it hasn't been my best year. Take away my win in the Tour of Flanders and we're talking about a frankly dramatic year in my eyes."

Her victory at Flanders while wearing the rainbow jersey remains the highlight of an otherwise challenging season. When shown footage of that triumph, Kopecky couldn't help but smile.

"I get an instant smile on my face. It's my best moment of the season," she said. "The fact that it was my third win doesn't mean much to me, I'm not so concerned with records. But winning the Tour of Flanders in the rainbow jersey, that's something very special for me: winning one of the most iconic races in the most iconic jersey."

The Belgian star's troubles began with a knee injury from a fall that plagued her entire winter preparation. "Initially I thought, 'I'll be able to train again next week.' But it became a story of constantly getting on and off the bike. That lasted almost until the end of January," she explained.

"I was always at training camps watching other riders cycle for four, five, six hours, while with luck I could train for two hours. During spring I still had some sensitivity in that knee, but the problem was gone. I just missed the necessary training work."

The Tour de France proved particularly difficult for Kopecky, who had targeted the general classification. "We went to reconnoitre that first stage and I was really looking forward to it. But I was at less than fifty percent of my normal level," she revealed. "That was the low point. I had a good cry after that stage. There were quite a few tears shed that week."

When asked if her ambitions for a Tour de France general classification are now shelved, Kopecky was measured: "I'm not saying it's 200 percent certain that it's shelved, but for now it is. I would only do it again on a course that suits me 200 percent."

Despite the disappointments, Kopecky found valuable lessons in her challenging season. "It's a year in which I learned a lot. How important a good winter is. And that when I have a bad day, I need to stay calm and keep believing in myself."