"I think there will be a battle between multiple riders" - Demi Vollering predicted big battle before start of Tour de France Femmes

Demi Vollering will line up at the second edition of the restored Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in the best form of her life and one of two overwhelming favourites to win the overall title at the eight-day race held from July 23-30. Her biggest opponent will be Annemiek Van Vleuten, but Vollering believes there'll be more riders in the mix.  

"It's not only between me and Annemiek. I think this course is good for a lot of riders; Classics riders, for example, Elisa Longo Borghini or Silvia Persico, will all be very good on this course," Vollering said in an interview before the start in Clermont-Ferrand. "I think there will be a battle between multiple riders."

"It's not a lie that I made a big step this season. I feel more confident in the races and, technically, those kinds of things. I also recognize this growth myself. Still, it's a stage a race of eight days, and you need to have a big engine for this, and Annemiek has more experience and training experience than me," Vollering suggested.

"This whole season has gone well, and I have confidence that this stage race will also be good, and I will be in form. I still feel good after this big season that I already had, and mentally that I'm still fresh and still fighting to win. We will find out at the end of the Tour de France."