Lotte Kopecky has already won the 2025 Flanders-now she is aiming for the next victory at Paris-Roubaix Femmes. So she would write twice history.
It is one of the most famous single -day races in cycling: Paris-Roubaix Femmes. The fifth edition of the race starts on Saturday, which is “Hell of the north” is known. The 148.5 km route from Denain to Roubaix, peppered with 17 cobblestone sectors, demands everything from the drivers.
Especially the sections Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre are considered key points on the way to victory. A driver in particular has already shown that she knows how to master these places.
Kopecky in top shape – and on record course
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx – Protime) is currently the measure of all things in women’s cycling. After winning the Flanders tour last weekend, the Belgian is faced with the next challenge: Paris-Roubaix Femmes.
Kopecky, who triumphed on Roubaix’s legendary Velodrom last year, is also considered a favorite this year and could continue her current run and write history – and that twice: With a win, she would be the first driver ever to get the Flanders Roubaix double pack. And she would be the first driver to win Paris-Roubaix a second time.
So Kopecky knows how difficult the race will be: “You need a lot of luck that your bike will hold through all day, you have to be in good position, you need strength on the cobblestones (…), but you not only have to be strong, but also clever and maybe even more than that”the 29-year-old told “Eurosport”.
Everything on the tour – but Roubaix in sight
The Belgian has made up a lot this year. With the participation in Milan-San Remo on March 22nd, Kopecky started this year in a comparatively late season. The reason for this is your preparation for the fourth edition of the Tour de France Femmes (July 26 to August 3, 2025). Kopecky wants to start the highlight of the season as fresh as possible. However, their strength -saving start will give the competition hardly any reason to hope.
SD Worx-Protimer in a duel with Lidl-Trek
Defending champion Kopecky, together with Sprinter Lorena Wiebes, is the top duo of SD Worx-Protime-the biggest challenger is the Lidl-Trek team. The American team sends three top favorites to the “Hell of the North” with Elizabeth Deignan (winner 2021), Lucinda Brand (third 2022) and Elisa Balsamo (second 2024).
German drivers with outsidechances
The classic race is also well occupied from a German perspective: Rosa Maria Klöser (Canyon-Sram-Zondacrypto), Romy Kasper (Human Powered Health), Lea Lin Teutenberg (Lotto Ladies), Franziska Koch (Team Picnic-Postnl), Franziska Brauße (Cerikit Pro Cycling) and Linda Riedmann (team Visma – Lease A Bike) will try on Saturday to stage yourself on the rough pavement of Roubaix. It remains to be seen whether a surprise succeeds from the background – they bring the potential for this.