SD Worx drama had been brewing for a year—Vollering and FDJ-SUEZ warn of what’s to come

"We started this team in 2006 with the goal of advancing women’s cycling," Delcourt began, noting that FDJ, alongside Groupama-FDJ, has played a significant role in the rise of women’s cycling over the years. "The past five years have seen rapid progress, with the TV coverage we deserve and some great victories. But we want more—also for the long term. By 2028, we aim to be capable of winning all the major races on our calendar."

That’s an ambitious vision—but why not? With Vollering, they secured one of the most successful riders in recent years, and they also signed Juliette Labous, a strong GC contender, from Picnic-PostNL. Add to that homegrown talent Evita Muzic, powerful Italian classics specialist Vittoria Guazzini, promising youngster Jade Wiel, and Ally Wollaston, who already claimed two victories in Australia this season, and the picture becomes clear…

Still, Delcourt isn’t getting ahead of himself. He watched SD Worx-Protime respond to Vollering’s departure by bringing back Anna van der Breggen, saw Visma | Lease a Bike launch a road project with Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, and noted that Lidl-Trek and Canyon//SRAM have strengthened while UAE Team ADQ boasts Elisa Longo Borghini on their roster. "It’s been an interesting winter in women’s cycling. Many teams now have a strong leader," he remarked. "A lot more teams will be in contention. But we are confident that we have built a very strong team as well."

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Like many teams in 2025, FDJ-SUEZ is betting on a strong three-pronged approach. Vollering, Muzic, and Labous—working together, not against each other. "It all comes down to personality, so when we spoke with Demi and Juliette, we also had discussions with Evita," Delcourt explained. "As a team, we decided to approach our plans with multiple leaders. They all accepted that. Our goal is to win the Tour—I won’t lie about that. It would be odd if, with these leaders, we were only aiming for podiums..."

That ambition is exactly why Muzic welcomed the addition of more leading riders. The 25-year-old Frenchwoman is a homegrown talent and a key figure in the team. "The cooperation with Demi is going really well. It’s amazing to have one of the best riders in the world on the team, along with Juliette. We push, help, and learn from each other so that we can all go for victories together. It’s much easier to have the best riders on your own team than to race against them," she laughed.

Labous echoed that sentiment. "We have to be united as one team, and we worked hard on that over the winter. We truly believe that’s how we can succeed." And Vollering herself? She’s (of course) happy with the setup. "It’s always great to have such strong teammates. Not just Evita and Juliette—the whole team is super strong, and that’s crucial for the races we’re targeting. We work hard together and share the same passion, which is motivating. I’m convinced we’re doing everything to ensure we achieve our goals."

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The women sit together in unison, but everyone knows that the first day in a new environment can be nerve-wracking. Vollering laughs and confirms, "The first meeting was a bit scary, but luckily, I already knew some of the riders from the peloton. From the moment I signed with FDJ-SUEZ, I started paying more attention to them. After that first introduction, everything moved quickly," she says proudly. "I had a really good winter, my training went well, and I already feel very much at home."

The transition was made easier by the fact that her personal sponsors, Nike and Specialized, moved with her to FDJ-SUEZ. According to Vollering, this wasn’t a given, but rather proof that her new team meets the standards of a top-tier sports brand. "That’s really special, and it’s only possible because this team is so professional—otherwise, they wouldn’t have come along. That’s really cool, and I’m proud of that. I feel at home here, and everyone has been so kind to me. The atmosphere is relaxed, no one has anything to prove here, so it just feels right."

The team’s winter training camps helped solidify that feeling, as Vollering took the lead in yoga sessions and running workouts. Muzic was pleased to see it: "I don’t often go running with Demi, but it’s really nice to have new faces on the team. I already knew Juliette, but I didn’t know Demi yet. That was exciting, but she turned out to be such a kind and calm person. We’ve already shared a room together, and I noticed that we have a lot in common. It’s going really well, and we’re pushing each other to a higher level."

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"Last year, the main focus was just following Demi. Now, we can actually use each other’s strengths," Muzic said, making it clear that at FDJ-SUEZ, they are building around a strong core, not just one leader. Both Muzic and Labous want to win in 2025, but for now, Vollering seems to be the clear leader for the Tour de France Femmes. "The Tour is always a big goal for me and for the team. It’s a great target to work towards, but I have many other goals. We’ll focus on those first, then we’ll look toward the summer."

Vollering also feels she has something to prove to herself. She won 15 races in 2024—an impressive number, but slightly less than the 17 victories she claimed in 2023. She explained: "This winter, I was much more relaxed than last year, when I had so many decisions to make and also felt the pressure to match my 2023 results. Choosing a new team was difficult, and it was constantly on my mind. I wanted to make the right choice, so I looked at every detail and had a lot of discussions."

As a perfectionist, Vollering took her time, weighing the decision with both her head and her heart. She ultimately chose FDJ-SUEZ but admits that both her mental and physical performance in 2024 may have been affected by the stress. "I had a lot of anxiety, but now I’ve been able to prepare myself much more calmly. I feel much more ready than I did last year and have already learned so much this winter. I’m working with a new coach, which changes things slightly. I haven’t made major changes, but my training has been a bit different. In the end, you put in your hours, do your efforts, and spend time on the bike."

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The elephant in the room during the press conference is the recent mud-slinging between Vollering and SD Worx-Protime. No comments on statements made by Lotte Kopecky or Lars Boom—Vollering simply emphasizes: "I don’t see a battle between FDJ-SUEZ and SD Worx-Protime. I think a lot more teams will be in the mix, with strong riders across the board. I’m not looking for revenge on SD Worx because I left on good terms. That’s not something I think about at all." There’s a brief silence before she adds with a smile, "Though of course, I’d love to beat them!"

Kopecky? "A big competitor," and nothing more. SD Worx-Protime does come up when Vollering is asked about the last time she switched teams, in 2021, moving from Parkhotel Valkenburg to SD Worx. "Back then, I was still very new to the sport and didn’t know much about race tactics. Over the past four years, I’ve grown as a person, learned to speak up for myself, and developed in all other areas. I’m still the same Demi, but also a little different."

At FDJ-SUEZ, they welcome this new version of Vollering with open arms, making it clear that their women's squad doesn’t suffer from the typical French stigma of being disorganized, chaotic, or exclusively French-speaking. "FDJ-SUEZ is a great team that thinks about everything. For example, during our last training camp in Spain, I felt like something wasn’t right with my bike. The performance staff immediately brought in specialists from Specialized to take a look. I tested several saddles and then a longer stem. They even had it on hand. It makes everything so much easier for me to test things. Those small details are so important for riders, and they make all the difference. It allows you to be the best version of yourself."