Update | "Demi Vollering in negotiations with FDJ-Suez for a multi-year contract"

What jersey will Demi Vollering be wearing next season? For now, it remains the biggest question in women's cycling. Vollering herself has stated that she will not disclose anything before August 1, the date from which transfers can be officially announced. Well-informed cycling journalist Daniel Benson from GCN has indicated that neither Lidl-Trek nor UAE Team ADQ will be Vollering's new employer.

It’s particularly notable that the latter team has dropped out of the race to sign the prolific winner. Earlier in the year, former cyclist Marijn de Vries shared a rumorthat Vollering could earn a salary of one million euros with the women’s division of UAE Team Emirates. Another powerhouse in women’s cycling, Lidl-Trek, also saw negotiations with Vollering fall through. According to Benson, Movistar and Visma | Lease a Bike don’t seem to be options either, with the latter focusing on recruiting young talent.

Where then does Vollering’s future lie? Benson now views FDJ-Suez as the leading candidate, unless circumstances change at Movistar and Visma | Lease a Bike. Ahead of the Tour of Flanders, FDJ-Suez told GCN that both of their sponsors are close to renewing their partnership with the cycling team until 2028. "We're ironing out the details, but I have the full backing of my two partners, which is excellent for our planning," team manager Stephen Delcourt said.

Delcourt: "She has the opportunity to sign wherever she wants"

Delcourt would love to see Vollering ride for a French team, but he seems hardly able to imagine it yet. "How could that be? We're not Dutch, and with Lapierre as our bike sponsor... Do you think that's possible? Maybe we could start negotiations tomorrow," he half-joked during a chat with GCN.

"I don’t know, but every team wants a Demi, every team wants a Juliette Labous, everyone wants an Elisa Longo Borghini," Delcourt continued. "The market is really crazy, but our priority is to continue as we are with our team, and if I feel that Cecile (Uttrup Ludwig, ed.) or Marta (Cavalli, ed.) is leaving, I am not foolish, but right now we are all laying our cards on the table. Every team is talking to Demi but I think it takes time. The rumor is UAE, right? I think she has the opportunity to sign wherever she wants."

Update - Monday, April 15, 2024 (12:30 PM): "Demi Vollering signs multi-year contract with FDJ-Suez"

On Monday afternoon, AD reported that Demi Vollering "will likely ride for FDJ-Suez starting next season". The Dutch champion is said to be negotiating a multi-year contract with the French team, which includes Amber Kraak, Marta Cavalli, and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig.

Interestingly, Vollering would also bring the bicycle brand Specialized to the French team. The bike brand is currently a partner of Vollering's current team SD Worx-ProTime, and the agreement between both parties continues for several more years.