DEMI VOLLERING : "I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO"
April 19 th 2022 - 16:44
“More happy than disappointed” with her second-place finish in the Amstel Gold Race, where she won the group sprint among the favourites behind solo rider Marta Cavalli, Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx) then won the Flèche Brabançonne last Wednesday. The 25-year-old Dutch rider arrives in the Ardennes full of confidence. She wants to follow in the footsteps of her new sporting director Anna van der Breggen in the Flèche Wallonne Femmes on Wednesday and retain her title in Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes on Sunday. A race she loves.
Anna van der Breggen retired after winning the last seven editions of the Flèche Wallonne Femmes. Many dream of following in her footsteps, including you.
It's going to feel a bit strange to do the Flèche without Anna. I've competed in the race three times. I've had two very good races (5th in 2019, 3rd in 2020) and I worked hard last year to make sure Anna won (10th). I'm really looking forward to seeing what I can do now. But my teammates can also win. Ashleigh (Moolman-Pasio) is always good on the Flèche (eight top seven finishes including two podiums) and Niamh (Fisher-Black) is a strong climber. We still need to talk about tactics, but we have many options. I think we need to use the fact that we have many good riders in the team.
And you can count on the experience of Anna van der Breggen in the SD Worx team management. Will she be in the sporting director's car?
Yes of course, I think she will be there. Her knowledge of the Mur de Huy will be an asset for us, she has shared some advice with us. But we must not forget that this climb suited her perfectly. I'm a different rider, I have to figure out how to handle it to get the best result possible. Once you win it for the first time, like Anna, you know what method works best for you to climb as fast as possible without blowing up. For me, it will be a matter of seeing how it goes and giving it my best shot.
The Mur de Huy will be climbed three times for the first time, compared to two climbs last year. Will this have a significant impact on the race?
This will make the race even harder. I think it will slow down the start of the race a bit, but it won't make much difference in the final outcome.
On Sunday you will have the opportunity to become the second rider to win a second Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes ... after Anna van der Breggen. What would it mean to you to hold on to this title?
It's a race that I really enjoy and which suits me very well. I really love the Ardennes. In the past, I often visited it with friends. And I have done several training camps with my boyfriend. So, there are many fond memories. And when I come back, it feels like I'm on holiday. So, I'm always happy to race here, and that's an advantage, I think. I'm really looking forward to it, and I hope to make my mark again.
From a sporting point of view, it is also the race where you made your name (3rd in 2019) and took your first major victory last year, two months before winning La Course by le Tour de France.
That's true, I have a special relationship with this race. It's been good to me since the beginning.
After that you will start your preparation for the Tour de France de Femmes avec Zwift.
That's right, I will then go to France to reconnoitre some stages, hoping to have good weather and strong legs to build up positive memories on these roads. I am also looking forward to the start of the Tour.
What are your goals?
Of course, it would be great to take the Yellow Jersey with the team. I'm really looking forward to the last two stages, which are very difficult because you rarely find such long climbs in women's cycling.
What have you adapted to prepare for the Tour? More training sessions at high altitude?
I did my first training session at altitude a few weeks ago in Sierra Nevada, in preparation for the Ardennes. And before the Tour, we will return to the mountains, to Tignes, for an even longer training programme.