Demi Vollering is in the final stretch of her preparation for the Tour de France Femmes.
The FDJ-Suez rider aims to reclaim the yellow jersey while also championing mental health and women's health in professional cycling.
The 2023 champion has had a stellar season, winning the Giro d'Italia Women, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the Tour of Flanders.
She will lead a strong FDJ-Suez squad that includes Juliette Berthet, Evita Muzic, Amber Kraak, Marie Le Net, Franziska Koch, and Celia Gery.
Vollering scouted early race stages in Switzerland, staying at a campsite between Lake Geneva and an apartment complex with her partner Jan and their dog Flo.
During her preparation, she reflected on using her platform to raise awareness about menstruation and mental health in elite athletics.
"I really like having a goal or a mission next to the bike.
And if I was able to help two girls by speaking out about menstruation, then that gives me a lot of satisfaction.
I don't want to just be that selfish top athlete and only think about myself. Then it will cost me energy," said Vollering.
She also opened up about a panic attack she suffered during the 2024 Tour de France.
"It was the first time I experienced something like that, all the years before I could always convert setbacks into fuel.
But I know now that if it ever happens again that I get a panic attack, I will get out of it again," she said.
Vollering noted that many riders hesitate to demand better conditions due to the sport's historical context.
"I don't want to be known as the girl who only talks about menstruation. And sometimes I also regret that not more athletes speak out," she added.
She explained that the rapid evolution of women's cycling has left many competitors feeling grateful for professional opportunities.
"What I notice in the peloton, for example, is that everyone is very grateful that we even get beautiful races.
That we get a bit of broadcast time, that we get a salary. Because everyone also knows where we come from," said Vollering.
This gratitude often prevents riders from advocating for further improvements, she said: "I think that others then quickly feel burdened or too much to then also say in an interview: we want more."
Focusing on her main sporting objective, Vollering reiterated her ambitions: "Like I said, I'm a dreamer. And I'm not shy to dream big."
When asked about her current focus, she remained direct: "The races I want to win, so now first the Tour de France."
FDJ-Suez team manager Stephen Delcourt emphasized that the squad was built around their lead rider.
"Just like every year, but especially last year and this year, it is really very difficult to put together the selection, because we have a truly fantastic team and we have only one goal: the yellow jersey.
That is why we want the best riders around Demi, and not just the seven best riders, because especially in this Tour de France there are many stages in which we have to be very careful if we want to put pressure on the others," said Delcourt.
Born in Pijnacker in 1996, Vollering worked as a florist and trained as a speed skater before dedicating herself to cycling.
She won the Tour de France Femmes in 2023 after taking the yellow jersey on the Col du Tourmalet stage and finished second overall in the 2025 edition.
