Kopecky up there again on stage 2 in Loire Tour

Consistency is key and 2024 is following on almost seamlessly from 2023 for Matyas Kopecky and Team Novo Nordisk with the 21-year-old again in the mix for the top ten on stage two at the Region Pays de la Loire Tour, eventually finishing 14th out of a select  group of favorites.

An uneventful opening two thirds of the stage unwound in a controlled manner behind the breakaway before the GC teams lifted the pace into the opening circuits around Saumur and it was then that the action sparked.

Attacks split the front of the race inside the final 20km and with Kopecky well positioned on the wheels a strong group of ten set out for the line. More attacks followed from the lead group and on the last lap Coustiou (ARKEA) made his count and held out by seconds for a solo win with Kopecky thwarted by milimeters for what have been his sixth top ten of the season.

Head sports director Massimo Podenzana:

“After we missed our first objective of getting in the breakaway again, we had to settle in until the cloaking circuits and then make sure we all worked as hard possible to position Matyas at the front for the inevitable attacks.”

“That part of the plan worked and if you look at the group he was in on the last two laps, it was packed full of favorites and he did a good job to show he belongs at the business end of races and came close to another top ten.”

Matyas Kopecky:

“I’m pretty stoked with our performance, the team were great all day again and morale is really high which can make all the difference and we’re going into each stage smiling and feeling confident.”

“Ok, the objective for me was a top ten, but to be in such a strong reduced group over the last two laps and fighting for the result is a positive sign. There were only big guns in there. I got dropped the last time up the climb, but made it back in and after the finish I was thinking ‘Damn! I should have gone with Coustiou when he attacked’ but who knows if I would have blown or made it.”

Photo credits: @cassandradonne