The 2024 Tour de France Femmes is set to kick off in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Monday, August 12, with a lineup missing one of its brightest stars. Lotte Kopecky, known for her explosive sprints and tactical brilliance, will be absent this year, choosing instead to chase Olympic glory in Paris. So far, the Belgian won bronze in the Olympic Road Race and was shy of another bronze medal in the Points Race at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome in Paris.
The Belgian’s decision to skip the biggest stage race in the Women’s WorldTour calendar not only shakes up the dynamic within her team, SD Worx-Protime, but also has the potential to shift the landscape of the race. As the reigning champion, teammate Demi Vollering, gears up to defend her title, the doors swing open for rivals and underdogs to seize the spotlight in a Tour that is still building its identity. And with just eight stages, Kopecky’s absence also removes a solid competitor for stage hunting in the grueling courses that make up the first half of the race, opening opportunities for other riders and teams to claim victories.
