"Demi recovered very well from the crash” – Vollering on the right path according to FDJ – Suez boss

Demi Vollering’s Tour de France Femmes campaign looked in jeopardy after a brutal crash on Stage 3, but just two days later, the pre-race favourite came back swinging with a second-place finish on Stage 5. Cleared of any concussion, Vollering pushed through significant pain to stay in contention. Before the start of the stage, she admitted her neck was still troubling her but said she was beginning to feel more confident. Now, just 23 seconds behind Kim le Court in the general classification, Vollering has reasserted herself as a threat for the win.

“This morning I had so much neck pain. I sat down on my rollers and could barely keep my head up,” she said. Still, her determination didn’t waver. “I think I've lost some of my fear now,” Vollering added, hinting that mentally she’s turning a corner just as the race heads into more decisive terrain.

Vollering was the overwhelming favourite before the crash, and it now remains to be seen if she can recover fully enough before the race hits the mountains. Remember, Vollering is trying to win back the title she lost due to a crash last summer.

FDJ - SUEZ team director Lars Boom praised her resilience and performance in Stage 5, speaking to Wielerflits about how quickly things changed. “The world suddenly looks completely different. Just 48 hours ago, you could almost see yourself leaving the Tour de France after a serious crash. After all the medical checks, you know there's nothing wrong and that Demi can race. Day two can always be tougher than day one, but luckily that's not too bad.”

Boom credited Vollering’s recovery as “beyond expectations,” saying, “Demi recovered very well from the crash, and that's the most important thing. This was beyond expectations because she had a hard fall. But when you have a top-notch Demi in physical condition, this is normal.” Looking at the GC picture, Boom added, “The seven riders in the front are all fine. Perhaps Le Court won't be able to keep up in the high mountains because she's a bit heavier than a typical climber. And you have to wait and see Ferrand-Prévot; she could easily be blown away if you see her riding around.”

Boom summed up the opening week’s intensity: “But it's actually been very hectic for five days now, unlike any other race. It takes a lot of energy every day; you have to be focused every day. We're definitely going to keep doing our best.”