Lotte Kopecky will not defend her world champion title at the upcoming UCI Road World Championships, to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, at the end of September. The Belgian Cycling Federation announced today the call-ups for all categories, and the two-time reigning world champion is not among the five athletes selected for the women's elite road race on September 27.

"She was hoping for a turnaround in recent weeks, but now she's decided to skip the World Cup because she's not convinced she's 100 percent fit. It's mainly a mental issue," explained coach Ludwig Willems.

Kopecky had a remarkable 2024 season with 16 victories, including Paris-Roubaix, the Belgian national road and time trial titles, a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, and a second consecutive world title in Zurich. However, she struggled with a back injury that forced her to withdraw from the Giro d'Italia and compromised much of her summer season.

The Belgian women's team for the World Championships will consist of Marthe Goossens, Julie Van de Velde, Margot Vanpachtenbeke, Marieke Meerts, and Justine Ghekiere. The Belgian elite men's team will be led by Remco Evenepoel, winner of the 2022 world title in Wollongong and the reigning world time trial champion.

Kopecky will now focus on the Tour de l'Ardèche (9-14 September), track racing and potentially the European Championships time trial on 1 October in Étoile-sur-Rhône, where she will defend her title from last year.

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