The world of cycling is driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence, and the departure of a formidable rival can have contrasting effects. It either creates a void to be filled or opens up new avenues for success. For the reigning Tour de France Femmes champion, 27-year-old Demi Vollering, the retirement of her nemesis, Annemiek van Vleuten, by the end of 2023 has catapulted her into the spotlight like never before.

Now standing at the pinnacle of her career, Vollering is faced with the daunting task of maintaining her motivation without the familiar rivalry that has fueled her competitive spirit. Without a direct competitor to push her to her limits, she must adjust to a new dynamic. The focus shifts from chasing someone else’s achievements to becoming the benchmark herself. It’s a challenge that will test Vollering’s determination and drive in a whole new way.

Demi Vollering gears up for a new look at the Tour de France

As the Dutch cyclist faces this uncharted territory, she eagerly embraces the challenge with determination and a clear goal in mind: to continue her winning streak. The demanding and gruesome nature of their sport has ensured that Vollering maintains a positive atmosphere around herself, making sure she is always in the right mindset.

She chooses to focus on enjoying her camaraderie with her teammates, maintaining a perfect balance between intense training and personal happiness. The landscape of women’s cycling is seeing a massive shift, with significant investment, following, and competition in the past few years. Demi is mindful to consider all things and not get ahead of herself.

With increasing competition and other riders rapidly catching up, she remains steadfast in her journey towards success. “But in the coming season, I will probably be the rider who most girls want to beat. So this is again something different. And I need to see how this feels in the races and how that goes,” she said.

While many riders have already hit the ground running in their racing seasons, Vollering has made the deliberate decision to wait for Het Nieuwsblad to signal the start of her 2024 campaign.

A summer like no other for Demi Vollering

Taking a page from her successful strategy of the previous year, she plans to tackle the Classics and La Vuelta while also incorporating a well-planned altitude camp to prime herself for the Olympics and the Tour de France Femmes. Vollering’s teammate, Lotte Kopecky, has kept the door open to potentially skipping the Tour de France if the demands of the Olympics prove too strenuous.

Vollering, on the other hand, highlighted how the thrill of the Tour de France’s Grand Départ is something she always looks forward to. “For me, it helps a lot that the Tour de France starts this year in Holland. This will be so special for me that even if I’m tired after the Olympics, I will have a lot of motivation to go to the Tour after that,” she told the media.

ALSO READ: ‘Cure on Wheels’ Led by a 15-Year Cancer Survivor Embarks on a 330-Mile Cycling Journey, Inspiring Hope and Funding Cancer Research

As Vollering contemplates her eventful winter, managing both her physical recovery and excitement for the future season, the cycling community eagerly anticipates her upcoming triumphs. Awaiting with bated breath, everyone wonders how she will conquer the obstacles as the rider to surpass in 2024. Her journey as the defending champion guarantees to be a riveting addition to the ever-evolving tale of women’s cycling.