Demi Vollering learns first-hand why the Milano-Sanremo is such a hard race to win: "Now I get Pogi’s frustration"

Demi Vollering was among those who were expected to turn up the heat on either Cipressa or the Poggio during the premiere edition of Milano-Sanremo Women. However the FDJ - Suez rider seemingly underestimated the parcours and rode quite defensively which resulted in fourth place for the Dutchwoman in a reduced sprint.

"It was weird," Vollering said to IDLProCycling.com about the first edition of the race. "It was a fast, tough race, but the climbs weren’t hard enough because all the climbing teams left their leaders isolated too early. On the Poggio, there was no space to go anywhere, so when Juliette (Labous) found a gap, she could attack. But for me, it was already too late. Canyon//SRAM set a solid pace, but it was just right for Lorena and Lotte (Wiebes and Kopecky)."

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And so, Vollering had to settle for fifth place. "It went so fast that it was hard to make a difference. Everyone’s at their limit from the bottom of the Poggio to the finish," she admitted. She now better understands why the men have long said it’s the hardest race to win. "Now I get Pogi’s (Tadej Pogacar’s) frustration - that final climb is over so quickly… if you’re not in position for just a second, it’s already over."

"I also just didn’t really have my day," Vollering concluded, after narrowly avoiding multiple crashes in the finale. "At one point someone crashed right next to me, and I thought she was going to take me down with her. I actually rode over her rear wheel but miraculously stayed upright."

Her competitors kept around Vollering: "Then in another crash shortly after, I just barely made it through, though I could still feel riders hitting me from behind - one even hit my leg. I went up the Cipressa full of adrenaline and stress, and honestly, I never really recovered from that. On the Poggio, I could feel the lactic acid in my legs."

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