Team SD Worx combative after Demi Vollering is driven out of red leader's jersey after sanitary stop

Team SD Worx combative after Demi Vollering is driven out of red leader's jersey after sanitary stop

“We are keen to put things right in final stage”

06/05/2023

"A baleful day." This is how Demi Vollering describes the penultimate stage of La Vuelta Femenina in which she lost the red jersey. The moment she and some other Team SD Worx riders stopped for a sanitary stop, part of the peloton pulled on full speed. After another jury barrage, Team SD Worx fought the entire day to keep the time difference as small as possible. "It is very disappointing that it has to happen this way, but we are keen to put things right tomorrow," Demi Vollering and sport director Anna van der Breggen said combatively after the finish in Laredo.

Linked race La Vuelta Feminina - Gekoppelde ploegleiders: Anna van der Breggen

In the penultimate stage of La Vuelta Femenina, Team SD Worx had to go full out for the entire stage to keep Demi Vollerings chances of the overall win alive. The leader of the Vuelta was left to chase after a pee break. "At 70 kilometres from the finish, me and some other riders on my team had to pee. Femke Markus also just had a puncture at that moment. It was just before a village. Nothing seemed wrong, because at that moment the peloton developed a slow pace," says Demi Vollering. 

"Right after our riders pulled over for a pee break, with a few more riders from other teams, Movistar, Jumbo Visma and Trek-Segafredo went into full ride. While the wind was not even really on the side. It was rather more of a headwind at that point," adds sport director Anna van der Breggen. "Because the level difference in the Vuelta Femenina is quite big, a small group with about five riders was dropped. At that, the jury immediately decided that another barrage had to be made and the cars had to get out of the way. Then it becomes difficult to get back after a pee break." 

"We really had a big gap," knows Demi Vollering. "The entire team had to ride empty until the foot of the first climb to bring me back as close as possible. There I went full on myself. It became a real catch-up race. When I got back into the 'first' group, there was already a leading group ahead."

"That Annemiek van Vleuten claims it was the plan to accelerate there anyway makes sense. It's all very coincidental though. They did everything they could to ride me out of the red jersey. This is top sport. I don't expect to get anything as a gift, but if you want to do it this way... A shame. So I'm really bummed. Yesterday, Niamh Fisher-Black lost time after a judges' barrage. It's already the second day in a row that we don't have luck on our side in that," said Vollering.

Although the Vuelta Femenina is not yet decided. Leader Annemiek van Vleuten starts the final stage with a lead of 1'11" with the tough climb to Lagos de Covadonga. "The gap was really big at one point, but we still managed to limit the damage reasonably," concludes sport director Anna van der Breggen. "So we rode a good stage. The girls showed today how strong they are. We will give everything tomorrow to take the stage and hopefully the overall win. The final climb is very tough, you can definitely gain or lose minutes there. After today we are tantalised and then you can always do a bit more." 

Demi Vollering is also already looking forward to the final stage. "My legs were very good today. Hopefully that will still be the case tomorrow. I am hungry for revenge. I hope to put things right tomorrow," she concludes.

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