2023 was a Grand Cru year for Demi Vollering. Strade Bianche, the Ardennes Tripple, Dutch champion and overall win in the Tour de France Femmes are just some of the 17 (!) wins she picked up. Good for the Vélo d'Or for the 2023 racing year. "It was a super season. I'm very proud of what I accomplished," the WorldTour winner looks back. "My highlights are of course the Tour de France win and the Ardennes triple, but also my first Dutch title is special. I felt in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad that it could be a special year. I immediately noticed that I had taken another step in winter. How we rode as a team in that opening classic raised the best hopes for what was yet to come."
"The Amstel Gold Race is a good example of teamwork. Beforehand we had a tactical plan in place, where I would attack after the last pass on the Cauberg. You can see Lotte Kopecky looking back to sound out how I was feeling, after which I gave a nod that I was feeling good and placed my attack. She protected my escape and won the sprint in the chasing group". Sports manager, Danny Stam: "That Demi made such a step in 2023 is indeed partly due to the team. It's nice to have absolute top riders like Lotte Kopecky, Lorena Wiebes and Marlen Reusser around you. The role of leading lady, you have to grow into that. Demi did that with flying colors in 2023. She took her responsibility and finished it."
Vollering: "It was a dream season. I will take the Ardennes Tripple with me for the rest of my life. Also, my victory on the Col du Tourmalet is special. To win on such an iconic climb in such a big race, that's a childhood dream. I felt so good and excited. To put on the yellow jersey was very special. Yes, I won the Tour de France, realising a dream, but it didn't change my life. I am still hungry and working very hard to achieve new goals."
Sports manager, Stam, also sees that Vollering continues to work hard. "You have to do that every year. Then everyone has a new jersey on. You shouldn't get stuck with what you've accomplished in the past, including us as a team. In January, the counters go back to zero and you have to prove yourself again. That's what Demi and the whole team are working very hard for.”