Demi Vollering reflects on World Championship defeat: “It’s just a shame, but that's it, unfortunately”

Two weeks after missing out on the gold medal at the World Championships in Zurich, Demi Vollering is still processing the disappointment. At 27 years old, Vollering has had an impressive season, but the World Championship title eluded her. Speaking to Hardloopnetwerk, the Dutch rider admitted that the sting of defeat hasn’t quite faded yet.

“I think that will take a while. It’s just a shame, but that's it, unfortunately,” Vollering said, reflecting on her performance at the World Championships.

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Now, with the season behind her, Vollering is taking some time to rest and recover. Though she’s not training intensively, she’s still enjoying cycling. “I will continue to cycle a bit these weeks, but that is not intensive. Long endurance training, because it is fun,” she shared. Vollering also mentioned her plans to incorporate more running into her off-season routine, something she has always enjoyed. “A pleasant time has arrived, in which I definitely want to take up running,” she added.

Vollering, who is set to leave SD Worx-Protime, reflected on her long-standing love for running, a passion she has balanced with her cycling career. “It was quite easy for me. I have always enjoyed it. When my cycling career started a year later, I continued to do it in the winter,” she said.

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However, running hasn’t always been encouraged by her cycling teams. “When I entered the professional circuit, my team leaders kept telling me to stop running. It was not done, because according to the old laws we had to cycle as many kilometres as possible,” Vollering explained. But times have changed, and more cyclists are now embracing running as part of their training. “Now more and more cyclists are running: as long as you build it up properly, there is nothing wrong,” she concluded.

As she looks ahead to the next chapter in her career, Vollering is taking her time to rest, reflect, and prepare for what’s to come. The World Championship defeat may still weigh on her, but her sights are set on the future and the joy she continues to find in her sport.