"Amazing," is how Lotte Kopecky sums up her first year with Team SD Worx. The Belgian made two monumental additions to her record last year. In the Strade Bianche, she overtook Annemiek van Vleuten in an epic final, definitively claiming her place among the absolute world top. A month later, she added her dream race to her achievements by finishing the team game perfectly in the Tour of Flanders. She also became vice world champion in Wollongong. On the track, she was twice European and twice world champion. "It was the best season in my career so far," Kopecky emphasizes.

"The fact that I immediately won the Strade Bianche gave me a lot of confidence. I no longer felt any pressure throughout the classics. I have a lot of confidence in the team and also get confidence back. The group atmosphere is really good. We can honestly say that we all like each other. As a result, we go through fire for each other. We also want our teammates to win. That is very important when riding in a team with only top riders. This year, I will again set my sights on the classics. If I can choose one, I will go for Paris-Roubaix."

"Team SD Worx has made me a stronger rider. With Danny Stam, Anna van der Breggen and Lars Boom, there is a lot of experience in our team car. They helped me futher develop last season. It is important to have the right people behind you. If there is a lot of knowledge and expertise in the follow car, then you know you can trust two hundred per cent that the signals you get will be the right ones. Even if I do something wrong in a race, this is discussed with me in a respectful way. Next time, I then try to do it correctly. This is important for yourself as a rider, but also for your teammates. This is the ideal working environment for me. I am simply proud to be part of the best women's team in the world."

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