“I wish I was sharper” – Van der Breggen and Niewiadoma react to Volleing’s European Championship win
Cycling
Demi Vollering capped her remarkable season by winning the 2025
Women’s European Championships road race, breaking clear on the final circuit to
claim the continental title ahead of Katarzyna Niewiadoma and Anna van der
Breggen. The race, held over the demanding climbs of Drôme–Ardèche, France, saw
the newly crowned European champion deliver a perfectly timed attack that
neither of her illustrious rivals could match.
For Vollering, it was redemption after narrowly missing the
world title in Kigali and a statement of dominance to close her season. But for
Niewiadoma, the 31-year-old 2024 Tour de France Femmes winner, silver carried
its own meaning, a mix of pride, frustration, and reflection.
“Yeah, it was definitely happy, especially to see my Polish
crew right there cheering for me,” she told Cycling Pro Net after stepping off
the podium. “Of course, the hopes were higher, but I also have to admit that
Demi hit an extremely brutal attack. Maybe I'm a little angry with myself
because I felt like mentally I gave up, I allowed myself to sit on Anna's wheel
and not stay in the mindset of ‘anything can happen now.’”
Niewiadoma admitted that fatigue played its part on the
final laps. “Sometimes I just allow myself to think nothing will happen now,
instead of being ready for more action. I think it happens when you're just
tired and mentally fatigued,” she said. “I wish I was sharper in my mind. But
I’m still happy to end the season with a medal.”
Van der Breggen, who took bronze, confirmed that the Dutch
team had executed its plan to perfection. “It’s always a good day when you can
execute the plan like this,” she said. “Kasia was really strong, but she didn’t
come much closer in the end. For me, the bronze is a nice bonus. Demi was
clearly the leader, and our plan was to go for the jersey.”
Reflecting on her own season, Niewiadoma was philosophical.
“It wasn’t the greatest season for me. Last year was one of the best, this year
the opposite, but that’s how cycling goes. When things don’t go your way, you
get extra hunger for more. I’m ready for a holiday now, and ready for 2026.”
Read also
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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