Demi Vollering is likely to be price €1 million a yr, if the rumours are true, however the Dutch champion wasn’t flaunting wealth as she previewed the ultimate levels of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes. Instead, she and her associate, Jan, explored the route and camped of their van with their canine, Flo, consuming al fresco and sleeping below the celebs as a substitute of in motels.
“Between races, you are in motels a lot, so I like getting away with the RV and getting again to fundamentals,” Vollering informed 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 levels, she mentioned, “are actually fairly totally different from something we’ve got ever skilled thus far. [We’ve never had] so many altimeters and all very lengthy levels. All above 150 kilometres, in order that’s going to be a very robust 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 is likely to be good to position an assault, right here I need to be gone already or right here is best to nonetheless be within the wheels. So you are simply constantly pondering forward already to the proper eventualities.”
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This yr’s Tour de France is a particular one for Vollering, not solely as a result of she is 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 extremely particular.”
Vollering has tailor-made her season across the August race, which comes simply after the Olympic Games. She has already been named to the Dutch crew for Paris however will probably be working for sprinter Lorena Wiebes together with Ellen van Dijk and Marianne Vos.
“The highway course will not be totally appropriate for me. It is sort of flat, so I additionally get pleasure from working for the crew,” she mentioned. The time trial could possibly be an opportunity for a medal, “On an excellent day, when all the things goes properly.”
Her spring marketing campaign went nowhere close to in addition to in 2023, with no wins till the Vuelta Femenina in May. She adopted it shortly with the general wins in Itzulia Women and Vuelta a Burgos Femenina and can begin on the Tour de Suisse Women on Saturday.
“I knew it was inconceivable to trip a spring like final yr,” she mentioned. The cut up with SD Worx over contract negotiations will guarantee she strikes to a brand new crew subsequent yr, though she would not affirm the €1 million provide rumours that unfold so extensively this spring.
“It’s good to see that there’s a lot hypothesis about it. It exhibits how a lot consideration ladies’s biking receives. For me it can be crucial that the races are seen, that’s how we obtain probably the most development.”
Until the top of the season, she is dedicated to working for SD Worx-Protime.
“I’m attempting to deal with the targets this season. My crew additionally needs to win these races with me, so that is what counts – the sporting facet.”