All-rounder, stage races, punchy short climbs.
DOB 19-01-2003
AGE OF DIAGNOSIS 15
YEARS WITH TEAM 3
Winners are not afraid of losing. Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success.
PROFILE
After a fantastic debut season with Team Novo Nordisk in 2022 Czech star Matyas Kopecky did not rest on his laurels in 2023 with numerous top ten finishes including in WorldTour events like the Tour of Poland, the 21-year-old blew us all away with a top five in the road race at the European Championships in September. By far the most prestigious result in his young career.
A former Czech U19 national road champion and strong time-triallist, the then 19-year-old enjoyed great start to his pro career in 2022 with second place in the prologue at the Tour of Bulgaria and third on stage two at the Tour of Rhodes the standout results with only fractions of a second standing between him and a debut professional victory and a clean sweep in his first season.
Back in 2021 Kopecky missed out on double Czech championship titles by only three seconds, after finishing in second place in the individual time trial only two days before the then 18-year-old stormed to victory in the road race.
First coming to the team’s attention at the 2021 Team Novo Nordisk Talent ID camp in Caen, France. Kopecky quickly confirmed his potential with his results on the road at both the World and National Championships.
Born in Rotterdam but representing the Czech Republic due to his Father’s side of the family, Kopecky started cycling at the age of eight and quickly fell in love with the bike. Coming from an active family, Kopecky started out racing cyclocross before switching to the road.
Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was 15 years old. Kopecky has not let it hold him back. Fortunate to be surrounded by a strong group of supportive family and friends, his first thoughts were “what about my cyclo-cross race at the weekend?!”
Educating himself on how to manage and live with diabetes, it was only a short time after that Kopeckly learned about Team Novo Nordisk and the amazing story of co-founder and CEO Phil Southerland and the inspirational athletes who compete around the world striving to change diabetes and carry their message of empowerment.
Kopecky describes himself as 50/50 Czech and Dutch and chose to represent the Czech Republic. He has a brother and a sister who are both elite level cyclists. His older brother is a third year U23 in Belgium and currently rides for a continental team and a younger sister for a Dutch U19 team. Cycling clearly runs in the family.
Off the bike Kopecky enjoys spending time with family and friends and would one day like to start playing guitar when he finds some free time, but for now the focus remains very much on racing.