Demi Vollering may be value €1 million a yr, if the rumours are true, however the Dutch champion wasn’t flaunting wealth as she previewed the ultimate phases of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes. As a substitute, she and her companion, Jan, explored the route and camped of their van with their canine, Flo, consuming al fresco and sleeping beneath the celebs as an alternative of in accommodations.
“Between races, you are in accommodations a lot, so I really like getting away with the RV and getting again to fundamentals,” Vollering instructed Nos.nl.
The defending Tour de France Femmes champion’s journey included a climb up L’Alpe d’Huez, the ultimate climb of the ultimate stage of this yr’s race the place the primary girl will get their identify on the board that lists the Tour de France stage winners atop the climb.
She additionally tackled stage 6 from Remiremont to Morteau, 160km lengthy, and stage 7 from Champagnole to Le Grand-Bornand, 167km, earlier than using the ultimate stage to L’Alpe d’Huez, 150km lengthy.
The final two phases, she mentioned, “are actually fairly totally different from something we’ve ever skilled thus far. [We’ve never had] so many altimeters and all very lengthy phases. All above 150 kilometres, in order that’s going to be a extremely powerful one – will probably be a spicy end.”
After climbing Alpe d’Huez, Vollering mentioned she may image it being full of individuals cheering on the roadside.
“I discovered it steeper than I anticipated,” she mentioned of the climb. On the recond, she mentioned, “You primarily attempt to see how the climb goes from the primary steep stretch [and see] right here it flattens out once more a bit, right here may be good to put an assault, right here I need to be gone already or right here is best to nonetheless be within the wheels. So that you’re simply repeatedly considering forward already to the right eventualities.”
This yr’s Tour de France is a particular one for Vollering, not solely as a result of she’s going to begin as defending champion however as a result of the race begins within the Netherlands.
“We begin in Rotterdam, near the place I used to be born, so it’s totally particular.”
Vollering has tailor-made her season across the August race, which comes simply after the Olympic Video games. She has already been named to the Dutch workforce for Paris however will probably be working for sprinter Lorena Wiebes together with Ellen van Dijk and Marianne Vos.
“The street course is probably not fully appropriate for me. It’s fairly flat, so I additionally take pleasure in working for the workforce,” she mentioned. The time trial could possibly be an opportunity for a medal, “On day, when the whole lot goes nicely.”
Her spring marketing campaign went nowhere close to in addition to in 2023, with no wins till the Vuelta Femenina in Might. She adopted it rapidly with the general wins in Itzulia Girls and Vuelta a Burgos Femenina and can begin on the Tour de Suisse Girls on Saturday.
“I knew it was unimaginable to trip a spring like final yr,” she mentioned. The break up with SD Worx over contract negotiations will guarantee she strikes to a brand new workforce subsequent yr, though she would not affirm the €1 million provide rumours that unfold so extensively this spring.
“It is good to see that there’s a lot hypothesis about it. It reveals how a lot consideration girls’s biking receives. For me it can be crucial that the races are seen, that’s how we obtain probably the most progress.”
Till the tip of the season, she is dedicated to working for SD Worx-Protime.
“I am attempting to deal with the targets this season. My workforce additionally desires to win these races with me, so that is what counts – the sporting facet.”
