Demi Vollering sees winning ambitions slip away at Amstel Gold Race due to a crash caused by "too low and poorly marked" road furniture

Only 20th place was not what Demi Vollering came for at the Amstel Gold Race Ladies, but all things considered, things could've ended much worse. The leader of FDJ - Suez fell quite early on into the race and ultimately never really participated in the fight for victory as she got stuck in the stand-still peloton. 

"There are crashes there every year," she sighed. "It's a strange spot, just before the Bergseweg. It goes up there for a bit, then down, and there are these central islands. They are much too low and poorly marked. When you're in the middle of the peloton, you just don't see it coming." Vollering got off relatively well with a sprained ankle: "My foot is still tingling a bit, but we'll check that tonight."

In the final of the race, teammate Juliette Labous rode in front, which meant that Vollering herself did not have to take any risks. "Of course, I had fallen too and you don't know exactly how you will react. So for us it was a great situation with Juliette in front."

Vollering herself could only really show herself on the last passage of the Cauberg, where she tested her legs once more. "I wasn't really sure about that, but it went pretty well. Only Liane Lippert could keep up. That gives confidence for the upcoming races."

The win eventually went to Mischa Bredewold, Vollering's former teammate. "I know that the Amstel is the race she wanted to win the most. She probably didn't think this victory was coming, but she really took a step forward last year. I'm super happy for her, she can be proud."

Vollering also spoke highly of teammate Labous, despite her visible disappointment after she crossed the line in 4th place. "Juliette was very disappointed, but I think she can really be proud. She has never come so close to such a beautiful victory. In training I see that she is making progress, and we really challenge each other. This should give her confidence."