"SD Worx-Protime stand by Lotte Kopecky amid difficulties in Tour de France Femmes; they acknowledge the necessity for an analysis of the team's performance"
Lotte Kopecky, a cyclist competing for SD Worx-Protime, has faced challenges during the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift due to a lingering back injury from the Giro d’Italia Women. After struggling to maintain her usual form, Kopecky has decided to put her personal ambitions aside and focus on supporting her team and potentially achieving a stage win.
Kopecky, who initially aimed for the general classification, has been affected by her injury and currently finds herself 2:50 down at the start of stage 3. Despite this setback, her team remains supportive, acknowledging her hard work and dedication throughout the race.
SD Worx-Protime, which has dropped to fourth place in terms of budget in the peloton, has been surprised by Kopecky's poor performance. Team manager Erwin Janssen expressed his uncertainty about what went wrong, stating that riders aren't robots and that Kopecky worked incredibly hard for the Tour.
With Kopecky unable to step into the GC role and Anna van der Breggen still building in her return from retirement, SD Worx-Protime may seek new blood. While no big name has signed yet, the team is actively working on strengthening their roster.
In addition to focusing on team goals, SD Worx-Protime plans to invest in strengthening their climbing skills. This strategy could potentially help them compete more effectively in the mountainous stages to come.
Meanwhile, Lorena Wiebes, another team member, has already secured two sprint victories with Kopecky's support. Anna van der Breggen, another key rider, starts stage 7 in fifth place, 35 seconds behind Kim Le Court-Pienaar.
The competition in women's cycling has increased significantly, with the budgets of SD Worx-Protime's competitors growing significantly. However, the potential of women's cycling in terms of media interest and sponsorship value is becoming increasingly evident, as more teams recognise the sport's potential.
Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to their Tour de France Femmes coverage for more details about SD Worx-Protime's plans and the race's developments. Kopecky hopes the race will conclude quickly for her, ideally by the final day on Sunday, August 4, 2025.
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- "Despite her back injury affecting her performance in the general classification, Lotte Kopecky from SD Worx-Protime is still focusing on supporting her team and potentially achieving a stage win in the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift."
- "The competition in women's cycling has grown significantly, with teams recognizing the sport's potential for media interest and sponsorship value, as seen in the increasing budgets of SD Worx-Protime's competitors."
