Thanks to its successful start to the season, Team SD Worx is heading towards Paris-Roubaix without pressure, but with high aspirations. The cobbled classic is still missing from the Dutch World Tour formation’s list of honours and the Team wants to put an end to that in this third edition of Paris-Roubaix. “Only winning Paris-Roubaix is good enough. If we don’t succeed in that, I will be disappointed afterwards,” said top favourite Lotte Kopecky.
Team SD Worx is thundering through the season. No fewer than 11 victories have already been amassed by the team since the start of the road season. Lotte Kopecky, after her wins in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Nokere-Koerse and Ronde van Vlaanderen, is pursuing her big goal without pressure. “Before the season I put my eyes on Paris-Roubaix. My spring can’t go wrong anymore, but that doesn’t make me any less motivated to triumph in the Vélodrome. I’m a lot less nervous than the years before. I’ve been relaxed all season, I feel less pressure on my shoulders,” Lotte explained.
“At training, things are going so hard that we push each other to a higher level,” Kopecky continued. “In addition, we can shoot arrows in a race without worries. We know there are always other riders ready to take over.”
Lorena Wiebes added, “The strength of this team is that we can count on each other. The team feels like a small family. Paris-Roubaix is an important goal for Lotte. So I’m going to try to help her achieve this goal. It is not an easy race, but I feel I have developed as a rider. I survive the harder races better. I hope to play an important role for the team on the cobbles.”
Paris-Roubaix Femmes Avec Zwift is still in its early years, which will have an impact on the teams according to Kopecky. “Many teams are still searching for the right tactics. We already saw two solo victories after a long breakaway. This year, a group may just as well ride to the finish. I hope I can live up to the Ronde van Vlaanderen-Paris-Roubaix double, but it will be far from easy. The bad luck factor plays a role in Paris-Roubaix. And I expect strong opposition from Trek-Segafredo. If I don’t win, I will definitely be disappointed. Unless someone else from Team SD Worx takes home the boulder.”
Team Line-Up:
Lotte KOPECKY
Lorena WIEBES
Elena CECCHINI
Barbara GUARISCHI
Femke MARKUS
Christiine MAJERUS
