"Demi Vollering denies being a 'drama queen' accusation, stating she is being pursued, following her involvement in Tour de France Femmes"
In the recently concluded Tour de France Femmes, Demi Vollering, riding for FDJ-Suez, put up a valiant fight but ultimately finished 3 minutes and 42 seconds behind the race winner, Pauline Ferrand-Prevéot. Despite this setback, Vollering secured the second overall position, a testament to her resilience and determination.
However, the race was not without its controversies. A public spat between Vollering and Jos van Emden, sporting director for Visma-Lease a Bike, overshadowed parts of the event. The conflict originated after Vollering suffered a serious crash on stage 3, which led to her team manager, Stephen Delcourt, criticising what he perceived as a lack of respect from other riders. Van Emden, in response, harshly criticised Delcourt’s comments, sparking a heated debate about rider behaviour, team respect, and toxicity within elite women's cycling.
Vollering, who has been involved in fallouts in the Netherlands national team in the past, rejected accusations of being a "drama queen," emphasising her focus on health and advocating for a healthier attitude towards body image and competition pressures. The dispute highlighted not only the immediate fallout from the crash but also broader issues about the dynamics and culture in professional women's cycling.
Despite the off-bike dramas, Vollering is proud of her team's performance in the Tour de France Femmes. In the final stage, she distanced Sarah Gigante to secure her second overall position. After the race, Vollering stood her ground when asked about Van Emden’s comments in her post-race press conference. She believes the person making negative comments about her doesn't know her personally.
Looking ahead, Vollering plans to take a break and work to improve for the 2026 Tour de France. She expressed feeling hunted and having a stigma of being a "drama queen," but remains focused on her cycling career. The 2025 Tour de France Femmes was a challenging event for Vollering, but her second-place finish shows that she is a force to be reckoned with in women's cycling.
References:
- CyclingTips
- The Guardian
- Cycling Weekly
In the middle of the Tour de France Femmes, a heated debate about rider behavior and team respect arose, involving Demi Vollering and Jos van Emden, with Vollering putting emphasis on health and advocating for a healthier attitude towards body image and competition pressures. Despite the off-bike dramas, Vollering is determined to improve and continue to be a force in women's cycling, aiming to take a break and prepare for the 2026 Tour de France.
The controversy during the Tour de France Femmes highlighted not only the immediate fallout from Vollering's crash but also broader issues about the dynamics and culture in professional women's cycling, underscoring the need for a healthier attitude and increased respect in the sport.
