"I think it’s the highest on my list that I want to do" - Demi Vollering not daunted by prospect of Alpe d'Huez at the 2024 Tour de France Femmes
Cycling
The 2024 Tour de France Femmes will climax on one of cycling's most historic and notorious climbs, Alpe d'Huez. Rather than being daunted by this prospect however, reigning Maillot Jaune winner Demi Vollering is incredibly excited.
“I look so much forward to Alpe d’Huez," she told GCN and other media from the presentation of the race on Wednesday. “Because this is the mountain I heard about for the first time when I was a little kid. The Alpe d’Huez was the mountain in Holland. I always wanted to ride the mountain, I think it’s the highest on my list that I want to do. I’ve never done it, but I’m really excited that we finally go there now.”
Dutch corner on Alpe d'Huez isn't the only thing that will give Demi Vollering a taste of home on the 2024 course either with the race's Grand Depart set to take place in Rotterdam. “I was waiting for today to see the route, to see if we go through my backyard, maybe past my grandma’s house, things like this,” she reveals. “So now that I’ve finally seen it, I recognise all the training roads that I do, and then of course we go to Limburg, also a special place for me. And then to Belgium and Liège - I don’t have to explain, that’s one of the races I love the most. I’m really excited.”
“I think the first two days will be also pretty hectic, because it’s flat, and I know the roads there, it’s a lot of cities, maybe not such nice roads to race on,” she said. “But I’m happy that I know every corner there, so that will help me a lot of course. I hope it’s not too crazy, not too hectic there. I hope that there’s a lot of wind and that it’s a really nice race, but then after it will be really hard and hilly races. I think it has a bit of everything, so that’s nice."
"It will put a lot of pressure on my shoulders, but most important is that I can also enjoy it a lot,” Vollering concludes. “This is something that’s only once in a lifetime, so I need to keep reminding myself that I need to enjoy it.”
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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At least the queen stage of the @LeTourFemmes is looking great. 👍 150 km, the long Col du Glandon and the race finishes on the legendary Alpe d'Huez. Now just hoping that Demi Vollering will have some competition... #TDFF2024
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