World champion Lotte Kopecky is rounding off her spring Classics marketing campaign with Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes, with the Belgian aiming so as to add La Doyenne to her palmarès following a fall at La Flèche Wallonne midweek.
Kopecky’s SD Worx-Protime squad have received 4 of the earlier eight editions of the Ardennes Monument, with Anna van der Breggen and Demi Vollering sharing two wins apiece.
The Belgian, nevertheless, has solely taken half within the race as soon as, ending thirty eighth final yr. Talking forward of this yr’s version, which runs 153km from Bastogne to Liège, she mentioned that she feels able to tackle the problem, whereas she has a “peace of thoughts” having already received the Tour of Flanders this spring.
“The truth that I have already got a win within the Tour of Flanders in my pocket offers me peace of thoughts. For me, that’s the very best beginning place, particularly that I can work in the direction of Sunday in peace and quiet,” Kopecky mentioned.
“If I had not received something thus far, the strain would have been lots increased. However with the Tour of Flanders, I have already got a Monument in my pocket, so that provides confidence. I actually take pleasure in setting objectives earlier than the season after which residing as much as them. That in itself is an additional motivation to additionally be capable to win in Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday.
“I feel I am prepared for it. For the reason that Tour of Flanders and really solely for the reason that Amstel Gold Race, I’ve that brisker feeling I used to be on the lookout for once more. It could be good if I can have that very same feeling subsequent Sunday. I additionally had a very good feeling in Wednesday’s race, however that final climb simply would not go well with me as a lot. So, I am heading to Liège constructive and with confidence.”
Kopecky heads into the Walloon Monument, which options the Côte de Stockeu, Côte de la Redoute, and Côte de Roche-aux-Faucons, off the again of a thirty fourth place at Amstel Gold Race and twelfth at La Flèche Wallonne.
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She fell sufferer to a crash within the latter race, received by Fenix-Deceuninck’s Puck Pieterse, although informed WielerFlits after the end that she had a “good feeling” forward of the weekend regardless of the disappointing consequence.
“I did not have a perfect begin on the Muur. That is my very own fault, after all, however then you do not have a lot room to make up for it on a climb like this,” she mentioned. “I had a very good feeling in each races, and I am going into Sunday with numerous confidence. Liège is more durable than Flèche, nevertheless it would not have a end like this.”
Kopecky admitted that final yr’s Liège debut was “disappointing” regardless of her robust kind heading into the race. However, she mentioned that she was glad she began to seek out out “how that race goes and the way the climbs in a race really feel.”
Her SD Worx-Protime crew have already tasted success through the Ardennes Classics, with Mischa Bredewold scoring the most important win of her profession with a 2km solo journey to glory at Amstel Gold Race.
The Dutchwoman, together with Steffi Häberlin, Femke Gerritse, and Mikayla Harvey, will kind a part of the SD Worx squad on Sunday. Van der Breggen, who skipped Flèche because of sickness, will even line up in Bastogne.
“Anna and I are a pleasant duo who complement one another. With a match Anna, you just about have a certainty within the ultimate. It is all the time nicer to enter the ultimate with two,” Kopecky mentioned of her teammate, who returned to racing this season following three years within the crew automobile as directeur sportif.
“Anna has numerous course perception, and communication between the 2 of us may be very easy. It is also good to have the ability to alternate ideas through the race. Within the Tour of Flanders, she performed an vital position for me. She gave me numerous confidence in the direction of the Oude Kwaremont. I hope we will play the sport collectively on Sunday.”
“The truth that we have now such a robust crew initially takes numerous strain off. I similar to with the ability to play totally different playing cards. Typically it falls your manner and typically not. I do not thoughts that both, it is simply good to share that strain and have a freer feeling within the race.
“What triumphing within the rainbow jersey would imply to me? It could be a dream. If that will succeed, spring can be greater than profitable. It could be very nice to have the ability to tick off Liège-Bastogne-Liège.”