The rise of Lauren Dickson — FDJ's ‘late bloomer’ giving Vollering a winning edge at Giro d'Italia Women

Two and a half years ago, Lauren Dickson had never raced a bike. Now she is riding a Grand Tour at the highest level of the sport for one of the world's best teams, earning high praise from one of the world's best riders.

After stage 5 of the 2026 Giro d'Italia Women, a brutal 146-kilometre mountain stage through the Dolomites, world champion Demi Vollering had plenty to say about her team's performance: "When we bridged to Lauren [Dickson], she did an amazing job," Vollering told journalists at the finish. "It's incredible to see what she's able to do in her first-ever Grand Tour."

The Lauren in question is Lauren Dickson, a 26-year-old from Scotland who only took up road racing in April 2024. Before that, she was a triathlete and trail runner. She had never once entered a cycling event, but on a brutal stage 5 of the Giro d’Italia Women, she dropped some of the best riders in the world.

“We had a plan, and we all worked so hard for it,” the 26-year-old Briton told Eurosport. “Every single one us was trying to make the breakaway, and when it went we couldn’t believe our luck. And Demi’s legs don’t fail!”

Dickson's first race was the JGCC road race, a regional amateur event near Kilmarnock in the west of Scotland. She turned up not quite sure what she was getting into — and accidentally entered the open category, which was predominantly male.

After riding regional races through 2024, Dickson got her breakthrough moment in 2025. She won the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, the flagship race of the British domestic scene, and followed it with third overall at the Tour of Norway against WorldTour competition. She also placed fifth at the British National Championships as the highest-placed Continental-level rider.

FDJ Suez had seen enough and signed her for two seasons. Team general manager Stephen Delcourt noted that "she doesn't fit the traditional profile, and that's what makes this challenge all the more exciting and inspiring."

The 2026 season confirmed the signing was no gamble. Dickson finished third overall at Itzulia Women and second at the Vuelta Extremadura Féminas, making her one of the form riders heading into the Giro.

After a strong time trial saw her finish 6th on Stage 3, it was Wednesday’s Stage 5 where she really came into her own. An early move of around 30 riders went clear, and Dickson was the most dangerous name in the group, having started the day sixth overall at 1:38. For a short while, she even wore the virtual Maglia Rosa.

With the FDJ United-Suez rider up the road, Vollering's team placed immediate pressure on Van der Breggen and SD Worx-Protime and forced the race leader to react. Dickson dropped back from the break and paced for Vollering on the climb, which exploded the GC group and shed proven winners like Longo Borghini and Reusser. She then kept coming back, putting in huge turns for her leader time and again.

Vollering, who eventually won the stage sprint from the four-rider lead group, was thrilled with her teammates: “She and Amber did a really great job. I was able to bridge across to Lauren so that she could continue riding at the front. All in all, though, it was a beautiful day, where we raced with everything we had.”

Dickson also confirmed that we will not see her racing for her self this Giro: "As for ambitions, I am riding this race entirely for Demi. We want to win this Giro with her,” confirmed the excited Scot. Given her impressive performances in 2206, it won't be long before she is given her own chances too.

Author: David Bavin-Hobbs - [email protected]