“I really can’t say" - Demi Vollering has no idea what to expect at World Championships as she warns favourite Reusser about course
CyclingSunday, 20 September 2026 at 13:00
Demi Vollering hopes to turn bronze and silver at her last outings in the World Championships time trial into her golden moment in Montreal. But over six weeks after her Tour de France Femmes triumph, she admits she's not sure what kind of shape she will have on Sunday.
Focusing on the discipline over the past two years, she collected a silver medal in Zurich in 2024 and bronze in Kigali last year, Grace Brown and Marlen Reusser bested her on those occasions, but the Dutch rider continues to evolve.
Her emphatic Tour de France Femmes underlined her status as the best women's rider in the world, and she hopes to ride her yellow jersey wave as she makes her return to racing after an extended break.
Opening up on how she feels before the time trial, Vollering confirmed that her shape in training is good - but isn't sure whether that will translate into a race situation immediately.
“I hope to be able to win here, but we’ll have to wait and see. I haven’t raced for a while, so that makes it a bit exciting again," Vollering told NOS.
Demi Vollering
Vollering has trained well for return
"In principle, I feel fine. Training is going well. That’s not the issue, but we’ll see shortly if I still have the race fitness. I am someone who stays steady throughout the season . I hope that is the case again now. I just want to reach the finish line with the feeling that I did everything right."
Noting that an aggressive approach to a technical 39.2 kilometer course could pay dividends, Vollering knows that any mistakes will be costly when the clock stops at the finish.
“I really can’t say. That is so difficult, especially on this course. You can really see huge disappointments here, but also those standout performances.
Aggressive approach could pay off in Montreal
"If someone has a good, aggressive mindset and does everything perfectly, you can just ride a very good time trial. But if you make a few mistakes, it can easily cost you dearly.”
Noting the length and varying nature of the course, Vollering had a warning for favourite Marlen Reusser, who is aiming for a second world title in a row. Other contenders that could thrive in the race against the clock include Zoe Backstedt and Antonia Niedermaier.
“It is also a long time trial, which we haven't had very often either. It is really difficult to predict. It is hard to say who the top favorite is here. For a time trial, you always put Marlen [Reusser, ed.] down, but she might also be surprised here.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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