Lot Kopecki Hits back at ‘completely unnecessary’ comments made by her former SD Worx-Protime teammate Demi Wollerinafter the Dutch woman said the two began avoiding each other.
during an interview national research council Last month, Wollerin said Kopecky “tried to avoid me” during his final year at SD Worx-Protime. “She was more focused on herself,” said the 28-year-old, who has since focused on her life. Signed a contract with FDJ-Suez Group.
“I can understand that because people in Belgium have high hopes for her. But she’s very focused on next year when I’m not here.”
According to Wollerin, the pair’s relationship peaked at September’s Tour de Romandie, where they sprinted against each other on the second stage, just as they had done at the Tour de France. Silver Avenue 2023. Vollerin won the stage but finished six seconds behind Kopecki in the overall time.
“I noticed that the communication was only one-sided. In Romandie we were kind of avoiding each other,” says the Dutch woman. national research council. “Then I thought, ‘Now it’s over.'”
Responding to Wollerin’s comments in the interview HLNKopecki said there was “absolutely no need to start kicking people now.”
“I think Demi should remember that this team has given her a lot. Demi is a very good rider but this team has brought her to where she is now and I hope she is very grateful for that and then she should Show more respect for that,” the world champion said.
The two leaders have competed in eight races together for SD Worx-Protime this season, seven of which took place in the spring.
“Things weren’t going well for Demi,” Kopecky said of the early-season run. “Fortunately she made up for it in the Spanish competition, but I don’t think it was my fault she didn’t do well in the spring. We went to different shows after that. Her goals were travelI support the Giro and the Olympics. “
Kopecki added that she thought “there was something wrong with Demi” at the Tour de Romandie in September.
“Demi said her goal was to win overall and I also said I wanted to win overall,” the Belgian said, adding of recent comments: “I think it’s a shame that she made these comments.”
“Demi and I have always had a great relationship,” Kopecky continued. “I hope we can still respect each other in the future, at least for me. I hope Demi does the same.”
