Demi Vollering draws motivation from late basketball player Kobe Bryant: 'Win or lose; the next day, you go back to doing what you always do.'

In the interview, Vollering spoke about someone she looks up to: the great American basketball player Kobe Bryant, who died in 2020. “I think he’s a truly inspiring man. The way he dedicated his entire life to elite sports—that inspires me a great deal.”

"And I recognize a lot of that in myself, too. The way he was focused on every detail and was truly obsessed with his sport. I think I have that in me, too," said the 29-year-old Dutch cyclist.

Vollering gives an example. “I always say: life is one big process, and ups and downs are automatically part of it. And when you’re on an upswing, you think, ‘Ah, now I’ve figured out life,’ and you feel like you have to hold on to that. And precisely because you start clinging to it so desperately, you’re bound to experience that downward spiral again at some point.”

The cyclist says her life hasn't really changed since she became world champion in Montreal.

“Speaking of Kobe… he puts it so well: it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose; the next day, you get up and just go back to doing what you always do.”

"So that's kind of how it feels, actually. Yes, I won a wonderful race—I'm incredibly proud of that—and especially of getting to wear such a beautiful jersey. But on the other hand, you're still the same person, the same cyclist. You’ve achieved something wonderful with a lot of great people around you, but that’s not the end of it,” said Vollering.

"Definitely beforehand, you really did have that feeling of: yeah, you’re kind of obligated to win because of your standing, you know? Even after the Tour, we actually went into the World Championships thinking: honestly, the season can’t get any better from here. So if you become world champion now, that’s a nice bonus, but it’s not a must or anything.”

"And then you arrive in Canada, and that mindset changes right away, and you really start to feel like, 'Yeah, but I have to do it,'" Vollering admits honestly.

Vollering is still on the hunt for more wins, following a record-breaking season.

On Wednesday, she’ll compete in the European Time Trial Championships, but secretly, she’s already looking ahead to 2028. “The job’s not finished,” as Kobe Bryant would say.

“The Olympics, of course—they’re definitely high on the list, too. The course isn’t entirely known yet, of course, but it is in the hills, yes.”

"So I hope that will be a really great course, too, one where we can come up with a solid plan. And then you hope you'll be able to head into it in top form and that it all comes together."

"But of course, there are still plenty of other great things ahead. I just really love winning and getting better. So next year, too, in races I've won before," said Vollering.

"Take Liège, for example: that’s the one I’d most like to win every year. Or Amstel: those are absolutely beautiful races that I always love to line up for. So it’s not hard at all to get pumped up for them and train hard."

"Even if you’ve already won them a few times, and even if you have a rainbow jersey, that just gives you extra motivation,” she concludes.