"I want to win the Tour de France" – Demi Vollering fires direct warning shot to rivals ahead of 2026 season
Cycling
Before a single race number has been pinned on for 2026, Demi Vollering has already set the tone.
On stage at the Grand Départ presentation, she repeated a line she had been practising in French — one that doubled as the most unfiltered declaration of intent you’ll hear all winter: “I want to win the Tour de France with the team.”
Carrying team momentum into a new year
Vollering described a group carrying strong momentum from last season into the new campaign. “We are all motivated for the season,” she said in quotes collected by Cycling News. “I saw us grow through the season last year. I feel that we have brought this motivation all the way to the end of this season and into the next. Next year will be a good challenge again, with some new riders on the team; we are really ready.”
She added: “I'm really motivated to kick off the season next year.”
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Reflecting on a successful first year with the team
The Dutch rider highlighted the achievements FDJ - Suez collected in 2025, including her victories at Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Espana, Itzulia Women and the Volta a Catalunya.
“I think it was a beautiful season, and we reached some beautiful goals with the team,” she said. “Starting at Strade Bianche, it was a big goal for the team, and I was super happy that I could take the win. It was a very special one because the whole team was a big part of it.”
“After the Vuelta, of course, the Grand Tour for the team, and so I'm really happy that we could do that as well. The Tour was a really good result with the team classification, polka-dot jersey with Elise. Overall, it was an amazing season for all of us.”
Vollering celebrating her Strade Bianche success
Tour and Worlds among the main 2026 targets
In an interview with L'Equipe, Vollering also said the races she did not win last season remain central motivators.
“Of course, I'm a winner; there are always things that can be improved,” she said. “So obviously, both the Tour and the Worlds are on my mind; I would have liked to succeed in both. But that’s sport… [not always winning] is what makes things more beautiful, too. If I manage to do that in the future, it'll make those moments more special.”
With FDJ-Suez adding further depth to their roster for the season ahead, Vollering’s objectives remain straightforward: “I want to win the Tour de France with the team.”
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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- I think Jonas would have lost the TDF by 4+ minutes (at the least) and might not have even been in the top 3. Too much talent in the younger riders to say anyone not named Pogačar would have been top 3md197503-11-2026
- this is just stupid. you already have 23%, gravel is over the topabstractengineer03-11-2026
- There was once a time when Lance was supremely popular and he used his artificial "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" persona to lead his mob in going after Greg. There was no one Lance did not abuse in protecting his phony hero image. Lance promoted himself as a divine megastar and he let down millions of cancer victims and gullible devotees who clung far too long to the charade. Lance is the epitome of a corrupt person and because of his power, many around him, including business enterprises, succumbed to the evil. All who got in Armstrong's way were mercilessly attacked by him and his minions. This remarkably continues today with a new generation. LeMond was a number one enemy and paid a huge price. Who do you think slandered who?Yepperoni03-11-2026
- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
- and another no-news article around the ‚2 tokyo jogging rounds‘ headline, this time spiced with some days old ‚news‘ that the LA and japan vacation trips come during or after the tdf route release. i am getting more and more annoyed by this time-stealing no-news crap. but who am i to complain? nobody forces me to come back for more ‚news‘ day after day …Ketterechts02-11-2026
- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
santiagobenites02-11-2026 - guillaume martin in this list is quite a surprise as a gc rider.Ketterechts02-11-2026
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