Lotte Kopecky

Lotte Kopecky is one of the most complete riders in modern cycling, combining world-class power, tactical awareness and versatility across road and track. With victories in the biggest one-day races, multiple world titles on the velodrome, and Grand Tour podiums on the road, she is a defining figure of her generation. Kopecky has won Paris–Roubaix, the Tour of Flanders, Strade Bianche, world championships and Olympic medals. Her development from classics specialist to serious stage race contender has been remarkable, and she continues to elevate women’s cycling on every front.

Born in 1995 in Rumst, Belgium, Kopecky was introduced to cycling as a child and raced her first events at age nine. She began in cyclocross, but soon shifted to track and road after learning cyclocross was not Olympic. Her early years focused on track development while collecting national junior road titles. She turned professional in 2015 and spent several seasons learning the ropes, earning her first road win in 2016.

Kopecky’s first major breakthrough came in 2020, winning the Belgian national road race title and a stage at the Giro Rosa (Giro d'Italia Women). She followed it up with more consistent classics results in 2021 and signed with SD Worx ahead of the 2022 season.

At SD Worx, Kopecky quickly became a household name. In 2022, she won Strade Bianche and the Tour of Flanders, then finished second at Paris–Roubaix. She also took silver at the World Championships in Australia behind Van Vleuten. These results confirmed her place at the top of women’s cycling.

In 2023, Kopecky opened with victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and successfully defended her Tour of Flanders title with a solo win. She then shocked the peloton by winning stage 1 of the Tour de France Femmes and wearing the yellow jersey for six days. She finished second overall behind teammate Demi Vollering and won the points classification. Just weeks later, Kopecky claimed the rainbow jersey by winning the World Championships in Glasgow with a bold solo move.

Kopecky has competed in every edition of the Tour de France Femmes since its return in 2022. That year she rode in support of SD Worx’s GC ambitions but still wore the green jersey for a stage. In 2023, she stepped into a leading role, winning the first stage solo and wearing yellow through the mountains. She held on to finish second overall and secured the green jersey, proving she could contend in stage races, not just one-day classics.

In 2024, Kopecky chose to skip the Tour to focus on the Olympic Games in Paris. She returned to Grand Tour focus in 2025, aiming to lead Team SD Worx-Protime in the Tour with the goal of winning yellow herself.

Kopecky is one of the most successful one-day riders of her era. She has won the Tour of Flanders three times (2022, 2023, 2025), becoming the only woman to do so. Her 2025 win in the rainbow jersey cemented her status in Belgian cycling history.

She won Paris–Roubaix in 2024, finally claiming the cobbled trophy after a second place in 2022. In both 2022 and 2024 she also won Strade Bianche. Her spring double of Roubaix and Strade in 2024 confirmed her unmatched dominance in the classics.

In stage races, Kopecky has also stepped up. She won the UAE Tour in 2024, including the summit finish on Jebel Hafeet. She also claimed overall victories at the Tour of Britain and Thüringen Ladies Tour. 

Kopecky is also a six-time world champion on the track. She has won world titles in the Madison, points race and elimination race, and is widely considered one of the greatest track cyclists of her generation. In 2023, she won two world titles on the track and the road race world title within ten days, an unprecedented triple.

At the Olympics, she placed fourth in the road race in Tokyo 2021 and returned in Paris 2024 to win bronze. She is expected to return to the velodrome for Los Angeles 2028, where she is aiming for her first Olympic gold.

Kopecky combines sprinting strength with climbing endurance and elite tactical instincts from her track background. She is capable of winning bunch sprints, breakaways and even mountain stages. Her consistency across terrains makes her one of the most feared riders in the peloton.

She has had a notable rivalry and partnership with Demi Vollering, her SD Worx-Protime teammate through 2024. As both riders evolved into GC leaders, competition for team leadership grew. Vollering moved to FDJ–Suez in 2025, setting up a direct Tour rivalry. Kopecky has also battled with legends like Marianne Vos, Annemiek van Vleuten and Elisa Longo Borghini in classics and world championships.

Kopecky is known for her resilience and grounded personality. In 2023, she won Nokere Koerse just days after the death of her brother Seppe, racing in his memory. That moment showcased her strength and emotional depth.

She is a national icon in Belgium, repeatedly named Sportswoman of the Year and winner of the Kristallen Fiets. She lives in Belgium, enjoys the outdoors, and has become a role model for a new generation of Belgian cyclists.

In 2024, Kopecky extended her contract with SD Worx–Protime through 2028, one of the longest and most valuable contracts in the women’s peloton. Reports estimate her salary at around €900,000 per year, putting her among the best-paid riders in the world.

• First woman to win the Tour of Flanders three times
• Winner of both Paris–Roubaix and Tour of Flanders
• World champion on road (2023, 2024) and track (six titles)
• Tour de France Femmes stage winner, points jersey and GC podium
• Olympic bronze medalist (road race, Paris 2024)

In 2025, Kopecky is aiming for her biggest goal yet: overall victory at the Tour de France Femmes. With Vollering now on a rival team, she has full leadership at SD Worx-Protime and a team built around her. Her second place in 2023 showed it’s possible. 

She also hopes to return to the top of the podium at the World Championships and prepare for another Olympic campaign in Los Angeles 2028, where gold on the track or road remains a dream. At 29, Kopecky is still in her prime, and her combination of talent, professionalism and drive means her story is far from finished.