Demi Vollering (SD Worx-ProTime): “I went too late in the final sprint, and it was a mistake”

April 21 ^st 2024 - 19:44

Anything could happen today in the final kilometres. It could go one way or the other. I tried to stay sharp. Elisa [Longo Borghini] was also alone, so I assumed he would jump on anything. In the final sprint, I went too late. I stayed a little bit too long on the wheels and it was a mistake.

It was a really easy race. We rode slowly because of the headwind. Some girls attacked, and we kept it cool. We closed the gap, so I don’t believe that we let it grow too big. I think the team did a really good job – Femke and Blanka rode all day to protect us, then Niamh [Fisher-Black] took over in La Redoute. All three pulled afterwards, as Mischa [Bredewold] dropped from the break to help us out. It’s a pity that she couldn’t stay in the front group, because it would have been very nice. Anyway, I believe my teammates did a great job today.

Regrets about the Classics campaign? I have regrets mostly about this race. Amstel Gold Race got down to become a criterium race due to the circumstances. La Flèche Wallonne Femmes was easier than normal too, with several climbs left out of the course. I was feeling very well that day, but Kasia [Niewiadoma] was stronger in the Mur de Huy. As for today, I made a stupid mistake, because I was on a position to win and I didn’t. This would leave a hangover feeling that will take a couple of days for me to overcome.

I didn’t think about pressure during the race. It’s before and after the race when you realize that you come away with nothing. During the race, everybody is nervous – that’s normal, and even good. It’s more inbetween the races that you feel bad about not having won anything.

This will make me angrier ahead of La Vuelta Femenina 24 by Carrefour.es. Two years ago, I felt really bad about getting away with nothing from the Ardennes, and the last year I made the triple. What happened this week can give me some extra energy for the future.