Kopecky shows great form in Paris-Camembert

Team Novo Nordisk set off for the 89th edition of Paris Camembert earlier today and the world’s first all-diabetes team showed intention from the gun. Declan Irvine initiated the day’s first move and formed part of the earlier breakaway. The break enjoyed a maximum gap of just over two minutes before aggressive racing from behind reeled them in. 

Crosswinds made for some interesting racing and caused a heavily reduced first peloton before the race reached the local laps in Livarot. Matyas Kopecky played an integral part in forcing this split and the effort would pay some dividends later as he crossed the line 7th, winning the sprint of the reduced peloton behind the breakaway.

Matyas Kopecky: 

“There were some crosswinds initially, and we were all in the front group. I recognized it was best to be in the front and do a pull in the echelon because you have recovery time in the rotation instead of just suffering in the gutter in the back. We made it to the local laps with just over 40 guys and it was just about survival because the climbs were really steep. I tried my best but when the five guys rode away on the climb, I was just missing that last little bit and couldn’t make it.”

“I knew that was the winning move with 35km to go. From there I stayed alert for the final and in the end I won the sprint from the second group. I’m pretty happy with the result but I was chasing the win and just missed a little bit of gas in the legs in the decisive moment. It’s still a good result for us and the guys did a good job keeping me in the front in the beginning of the race so overall it was a good day for us.” 

Declan Irvine:

“It was a good day overall for us. I attacked from the gun and got away with a Kiwi guy, then after a few kilometers three guys came across to make it a move of five. We had a massive tailwind for the first 100km or so and we were pulling quite hard as the peloton kept catching us. Then we hit a small crosswind section and we had to pull hard but in the end the fighting in the crosswinds brought us back quite quickly.”

“I was happy to get in the break and it would have been good to be out there for longer and make it to the local laps but that’s the nature of racing. Once we were caught I was pretty tired on the local laps and just rode in the groups.”