"I would say that Demi is worth it" - Lorena Wiebes believes rumoured €1million bid for Vollering shows progression of women's cycling

Arguably the biggest star in women's cycling today, Demi Vollering could soon be leaving Team SD Worx - Protime if UAE Team ADQ follow up on their rumoured €1million interest in the reigning Tour de France Femmes champion.

When quizzed on the topic after taking victory in the opening stage of the 2024 UAE Tour Women, Vollering's teammate, Lorena Wiebes expressed her belief that even just the talk of such deals show how much progress women's cycling has made in recent years.

“It’s crazy. When I started at Parkhotel Valkenburg, I was happy to turn my hobby into my work, but absolutely nothing like that," Wiebes tells Cycling News in her post-race press conference. "For me, it’s not all about the money, because you also need to be in a team where you feel good."

“It is good that salaries are going up, but we also need to think about the other riders, not just the top. I would say that Demi is worth it, but it’s also important that the support riders have a good salary; they are really important in the races," Wiebes continues, although more work is still needed until the women's World Tour reaches the level of their male counterparts. “There are still riders in the peloton who don’t earn anything. It’s really important that they earn at least something for racing and aren’t doing it only for a bib and a shirt."