Vollering didn't have time to celebrate her World Championship win and is already at home: 'We’re trying to shake it off'
CyclingSunday, 27 September 2026 at 16:53
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Follow us on GoogleAfter several years of trying without success, Demi Vollering finally did it on Saturday. The top female cyclist of the moment clinched her well-deserved world title in Canada and was, of course, overjoyed. But there was no time for an exuberant celebration—there simply wasn’t time for it—and now Vollering is already back in the Netherlands.
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About fifteen hours after winning the rainbow jersey, Vollering had already landed at Schiphol. Together with her boyfriend Jan de Voogd, she walked into the arrivals hall loaded down with luggage. After a long, grueling Saturday and a long flight from Canada, she was exhausted. “I’m so happy to be home,” she said into the NOS microphone.
So after winning the world title, there wasn’t really time for a celebration. “Not really. We grabbed a quick burger at the hotel and made a toast, and then it was a rush to the airport and back on a plane.” There’s a good reason for the rush. “The European Championships are coming up next week, so we haven’t been able to celebrate too wildly yet.”
It was wonderful to see the joy on Vollering’s face and among the Dutch team. She herself has already received quite a few congratulations. “It’s crazy—so many messages, all such nice messages from people. It’s great to see. I think I need to sleep off this buzz first to really take it all in, but it’s absolutely wonderful.”
Read more below the photo!
Vollering ready for the European Championships: 'We'll be back in action this weekend'
After a few years when things were a bit more challenging, all the pieces of the puzzle are now falling into place. “I think it’s mainly the result of all those years of hard work and fine-tuning all the little details. Learning more about yourself, maturing a bit... All those little things are coming together now, which means you’re even more comfortable on the bike, even better balanced, and able to achieve results like this.”
And now it’s off to bed. “I’m tired, yeah, with the jet lag and all. But we’re trying to shake it off as quickly as possible, and then we’ll be back in action this weekend.” Vollering doesn’t want to name a favourite for the men’s race. “I think the race has already started? I haven’t seen anything. I’m really curious about it.”
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - Small detail the article missed: what about rain or sweat on the label? If the ink smears, that’s game over. Use pre-printed stickers or laminated wraps.samanthak27-09-2026
- - Great piece. Signs + bottles = redundancy. If they also use hand signals at the pit, Belgium might have the best comms of the day.cadencekingm27-09-2026
- - Pauwels joking about fake messages made me laugh. Imagine handing Remco a bottle that says “Attack now” on an odd lap and he actually goes. Qué locura, pero muy divertido, non?sprocketspiny27-09-2026
- - Feels like we’re overcomplicating. Radios make racing safer and clearer. The “boring race” argument is dated—modern Worlds are explosive anyway.gearguru3327-09-2026
- - So is the course a closed loop where they get a feed each lap? I don’t get how often riders can grab bottles at Worlds.bikebuffj27-09-2026
- - Wout saying he’s never raced this way before surprises me. Old school meets modern pro peloton. Could be the edge in a chaotic Montréal circuit.andrewf27-09-2026
- - Love the ingenuity. Remco’s right though—miss one bottle and you’ve missed a split-second call. Maybe pair the bottle with a staffer shouting codewords? “Plan B” “Green light” etc.robert6527-09-2026
- - How do they stop other teams reading the notes? If the message is on the bottle, wouldn’t everyone just see it when they pass the feed?velodromevirtuoso127-09-2026
- - Not sure this is safe tbh. That U23 bottle rolling near the cameraman proves the point. One stray bidon in a corner and you’ve got a pile-up. UCI should rethink the no-earpiece rule for Worlds.patriciaw27-09-2026
- - Clever from Belgium. Using bidons as mini whiteboards is simple and effective, especially on a circuit. If they rotate messages lap by lap, Wout and Remco can adapt quicker than teams relying only on roadside boards.lindae27-09-2026
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