Vollering didn't have time to celebrate her World Championship win and is already at home: 'We’re trying to shake it off'
Cycling
Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google
Stay up to date with the best cycling news by making us a preferred source on Google.
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.”
Read also
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'.
IDL-productions
Celia Gery won the European cyclocross championship while awaiting surgery: 'It'll be a new beginning'
Dutch team coach De Knegt annoyed by European Cyclocross Championships dispute: "A bit of a let down"
Glasgow set to shine as World Cup demand outstrips expectations and Mason eyes first home cyclocross race
Pogačar, Vingegaard and Van Aert went faster again in 2026... except when they didn't
Team GB dominate, China on the rise, Lavreysen the best ever? Five takeaways from the 2026 Track World Championships
Latest Cycling News
Pidcock's turbocharged vacation leads to struggles on the bike: 'No wonder people think cycling is hard'
Mathieu Van der Poel returns to No. 1 in the UCI Rankings without riding a single race
Mads Pedersen weighs in on Lucinda Brand and Marie Schreiber's European Cyclocross Championship clash
Cameron Mason follows in Tom Pidcock's wheel tracks at the Superprestige: 'Only one option today'
🎥 Lucinda Brand pulls out of the Niel cyclocross race in tears after just a few minutes
Popular Cycling News
Cycling transfers 2026/2027 | Cycling transfer market still in full swing in November
Tadej Pogačar reveals his insane training data in new HBO film: 'I think that's what works best'
🎥 Lucinda Brand pulls out of the Niel cyclocross race in tears after just a few minutes
Fears of serious injury to Alvarado, bronze medalist, after the European Cyclocross Championships
Mads Pedersen weighs in on Lucinda Brand and Marie Schreiber's European Cyclocross Championship clash
Latest Comments
- If he finished ninth at the Tour, why didn’t he get a stage win too? I’m still trying to understand how the overall standings work.julien11-11-2026
- No ‘cross at all this winter? That’s a shame, but with his road season starting in February, I can see why he’d want a proper break. Does stepping away mean he’s done with cyclocross for good?gearguru3311-11-2026
- I like the honesty of that training post. Even the best riders feel the difference after a few weeks off, and he’s got plenty of time to build back up.samanthak11-11-2026
- Three sets of tyres in two days at the Nürburgring! The man clearly doesn’t do anything by halves. Bet a winter without cyclocross will feel strange, though.bikebuffj11-11-2026
- Fifth in the world rankings after that autumn run is some achievement. Pidcock was so aggressive at the Tour, too—hopefully he can turn a few of those near-misses into wins inpatriciaw11-11-2026
- Does XEFI’s investment mean the team will have more money to sign riders, or is it mainly a sponsorship and naming change? And is Roglič expected to race much next season?jeremya11-11-2026
- If the roster is nearly complete, why bring up Roglič at all? Feels like the article is turning a firm “no” into a transfer rumour.andrewf11-11-2026
- Wuling is no joke—105 km of climbing to 3,275 metres is brutal. Five minutes off Dyball’s record is still an incredible ride.velodromevirtuoso111-11-2026
- Roglič at TotalEnergies would be a fascinating move, but Heulot sounds pretty clear that it isn’t happening. His experience could be a massive boost for the younger riders, though.jennifer1911-11-2026
- Eight riders told to go for stages, and nobody gets one—hard to know what the plan was there. It’ll be interesting to see whether they pick a clear leader next time.bikebuffj10-11-2026