Crazy about Kopecky: Belgian Champion's rise to fame at the Tour of Flanders

Belgian Champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx)
Belgian Champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) (Image credit: Getty Images)

Lotte Kopecky was a teenager when she sat in front of the television enthralled at the spectacle of her two sports heroes, Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara, battling for victories during the cobbled classics. They represented one of the greatest rivalries in cycling, sports celebrities of that era. 

Kopecky, who hails from Rumst in the province of Antwerp, has experienced her own rise to stardom as she toes the start line wearing the black, yellow and red jersey of the national champion for SD Worx in the biggest bike race in Belgium – the Tour of Flanders.

Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.