Demi Vollering drew inspiration for her big goals from Jutta Leerdam — an old acquaintance from a previous sporting life
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Follow us on GoogleFour race days, four wins. You can start a season in worse fashion, Demi Vollering. The Dutch leader of FDJ–SUEZ added another line to an already glittering palmarès on Saturday in Ninove, winning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and ticking off another box early in 2026. Afterwards, she had plenty to say about how she has experienced the past few months.
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“I did expect it from myself that I would do it, but you still have to actually go out and do it,” said a delighted Vollering. “I’m proud — and proud of the team, who did such a good job on the front all day. I hardly had to do anything, it felt like. It was really nice to do it like that with the girls. We understand each other on the bike, everyone knows what they have to do.”
“How the girls did that was really beautiful to watch,” she continued. In particular, Franziska Koch paved the way for the European champion with an impressive acceleration on the Muur. “That was actually a job for Juliette (Berthed, ed.), but that’s the power of a real team effort: stepping in at a moment when people don’t necessarily expect it from you.”
Read more below the video!
Vollering explained it to Niewiadoma
Vollering made the difference at the decisive moment. “The plan was to go full gas up the Muur, and in the end I saw that only Kasia (Niewiadoma, ed.) was still with me. From there it was full gas to the Bosberg, and then full gas to the finish. Kasia said she wanted to work, but she didn’t really do that straight away.”
“In the end she did take really good turns — and it was also in her interest to stay away together,” Vollering said. “And I knew I still had three teammates behind me, so we could have played the game with four as well. Kasia understood that for her it was all or nothing.”
She told her escape companion as much — and then finished it off in the sprint. “I didn’t want to go too early, because the wind was slightly head-on. If you blow yourself up there, you really do blow up. I had to open first, and that turned out to be enough.”
“This start to the season feels good,” Vollering added. “Even in winter I already had the feeling this could be a really nice year. I feel good — and you have to stay healthy. So far, that’s been the case.”
Read more below the video!
Vollering opted for a different winter approach
Vollering made changes this winter with that in mind. “You learn from last year,” she said. What changed? “For example, we did fewer interviews, because that still costs energy in a certain way. I feel like I started the season fresher because I could really enjoy some quiet time at home and in the mountains,” said the rider who lives in Switzerland.
Less is more, then. “That way I could properly reset with my boyfriend and our dog Flo. At the same time, I really enjoy preparing myself for the big races — that was another point,” said Vollering, who is adding the Tour of Flanders back into her programme this year.
“Working towards a big goal together with the team gives me loads of energy, too. That’s where my way of celebrating came from. In January we often played a little game — I don’t even know what it’s called — where you have to make a connection with each other. We kept using that gesture a lot, and it was super fun as a group.”
Read more below the photo!
Vollering found inspiration in Leerdam
The Dutch star has a background in speed skating, and in recent weeks she also drew motivation — and inspiration — from the performances of her compatriots at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan.
“That was really special to watch,” Vollering said. “Take Jutta Leerdam, with the pressure she’s had,” she mentioned, referring to her former fellow skater. “How she had the media and everyone coming at her… and then she still just does what she’s good at and rides great races.”
“I think I can relate to how she sometimes feels, so that was really inspiring,” Vollering continued. “I sometimes message her as well, because we used to skate laps together back in the day.”
Tom van der Salm (27) comes from the charming town of Zeilberg (Deurne) in the Netherlands and has been working as editor-in-chief & journalist at IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, In de Leiderstrui, since 2019. He travels with the peloton from the Tour de France to the AlUla Tour and from the World Championships in Rwanda or Canada to the Zilvermeercross in Mol. In his spare time he enjoys playing football, mountain biking, running, walking with his Labrador/Stabyhoun, investing, holidays, (specialty) beers, reading, cooking and watching sports & documentaries!
Contact: [email protected]
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Latest Comments
- - Pidcock throwing shade about del Toro in Montréal felt a tad salty. Teams always ride tactics; it’s worlds, not a club race. If Tom wants revenge at Lombardia, he’ll need to mark Ayuso and Remco too, not just McNulty. Vamos Brandon, forza UAE!velodromevirtuoso101-10-2026
- - Wait, so Pogačar is “finished for 2026” but also only back at Tour Down Under 2027? Bit confusing—does that mean he’s out for the whole of 2026 season, or is it just no racing until Jan 2027? Can someone clarify the timeline?lindae01-10-2026
- - Brilliant piece. McNulty in the maglia iridata at San Luca is going to be class. If he measures the final laps and doesn’t overcook it early, he can outsprint most on that ramp.raceready701-10-2026
- - Is October 3 correct for Giro dell’Emilia this year? Thought it usually lands the first weekend but the date here looks off by a day. Either way, stacked UAE roster—curious how they juggle Yates/Wellens/Narváez with the new rainbow stripes.jeremya01-10-2026
- - Wild to think Pogačar wanted to race already when Mir said the collarbone was fine, but Gianetti’s playing the long game. If McNulty carries that Montréal snap into Emilia and Lombardia, watch out. His TT engine plus those short climbs = trouble for Remco and Pidcock.davidm01-10-2026
- - McNulty solo win gets one line? Come on, give Brandon some kudos—his timing on Camillien-Houde was spot on, and MvDP covered a lot to set that finale up. Grande artículo, pero faltan detalles de la táctica en Montréal.patriciaw01-10-2026
- - Not sure why the piece keeps circling back to “we’ll see” without new info. Feels a bit padded. Either he races CX or he doesn’t—tell us when he’ll decide.raceready701-10-2026
- - I’d miss the cross battles if he sits out. The last winter run from Namur onwards—13 straight wins and Hulst rainbow—was insane. But resting might be the only way to consistently match Pog next April.jeremya01-10-2026
- - Quick question: the article says the baby is due around the time of the 2027 CX Worlds in Ostend, but earlier it says January with the 2026/this winter schedule. Is that a typo on the year?julien01-10-2026
- - Brilliant season wrap from MvDP. Eight wins, two TDF stages, E3 + Omloop, and bronze in Montréal. If he skips cross, that could sharpen the spring peak for Sanremo/Ronde/Roubaix. Family comes first though—proficiat to him and Roxanne.breakawaybikerd01-10-2026
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