Demi Vollering aims to put icing on cake on great season with world title in Glasgow

Demi Vollering aims to put icing on cake on great season with world title in Glasgow

"Rainbow jersey big goal in my career"

11/08/2023

The Strade Bianche was Demi Vollering's first major victory in 2023. She never dared to dream that so many beautiful major victories and places of honour would follow afterwards. Meanwhile, the tally stands at 15 victories and 10 second places. She achieved a historic Ardennes triple, became Dutch champion, and reigned supreme in the Tour de France Femmes with a final win. A smashing season, which she could just about add more lustre to with a world title. "Whether I become world champion or not, my year is brilliant anyway. But a world title would make it truly unforgettable," says Demi Vollering.

Linked cyclists Demi Vollering

With a rock-solid Ardennes leg and a win in the Tour de France Femmes, Demi Vollering has already achieved her main goals this season. But she still burns with ambition to win the world title. Last year, due to a Covid infection in Wollongong, Australia, she had to miss out on the World Championships and watched Annemiek van Vleuten and Oranje win the world title in her hotel room. "Of course I would have liked to have been there then, but it's not like this is an extra motivation now. I can't change anything about it anymore. Glasgow is a new opportunity. I notice that I am calm. In the Tour de France I experienced a form of restlessness, I was sometimes too eager. Now I live towards the road race with confidence."

The course in Glasgow is a real war of attrition, full of intervals, due to the many turns and twists. "It might be similar to the Dutch championship around VAM Mountain. That was also an interval race, but the course in Glasgow is tougher. There are few recovery moments. The Netherlands comes to the start with a nice team that is overall very strong. That is an advantage we have to make use of. We don't have to stick to one plan. Different scenarios favour us and that is a luxury."

According to the weather forecast, rain is among the possibilities this Sunday. "Rain would affect the race fiercely. It is a street circuit full of white lines and with an uneven road surface. So some riders will enter the corners with a little bit more trepidation. When it's cold, you also go through your carbohydrate supply faster. Normally, I always do well in the rain. I train outside a lot. A bit of rain doesn't put me off."

Demi Vollering and Lorena Wiebes are among the favourites for the world title, as is Lotte Kopecky, their teammate at Team SD Worx. "I think Lotte is a fantastic person AND she is a great rider. One of the very strongest at the moment. Ideally you always race with each other, but at the World Championships we are wearing a different jersey. It will be weird to race against her. At training camp you sometimes simulate a race, but nothing is at stake there. Now it's about a world title. On the one hand, I am a bit afraid of the battle with Lotte because she is in blood form, but on the other hand I am also looking forward to it. It's nice to compete with the strongest. But the contenders are not only from the Team SD Worx team. This course is also perfectly suited to Silvia Persico, Liane Lippert and Kasia Niewiadoma. While Elise Chabbey forms a strong block with Marlen Reusser. It will be an interesting spectacle."

Back to overview | prochain | next

Read also

Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×