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.
>>> Former Judo World Medalist Roy Meyer Makes MMA Switch with Levels Fight League
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.
