“I’m completely drained and now I want to go to sleep” – Vollering blames illness for Tour de Suisse defeat
Cycling
Demi Vollering’s second place finish at the Tour de Suisse Women might look like a solid result on paper, but the Dutch rider left Switzerland
with more questions than satisfaction. For someone who has dominated much of
the 2025 season so far, including a commanding win at the Vuelta Femenina, her
performance in the Swiss mountains marked a rare off day, and she suspects
illness played a role.
“I didn’t feel well at all from the start of the race. Maybe
it’s a virus or something,” she told Cycling Pro Net after being beaten
by 30 seconds on the final day by Movistar's Marlen Reusser. “I’m completely
drained and now I want to go to sleep. Give myself the chance to recover,
apparently it’s been too much.”
The final stage saw Vollering drop significant time to
Reusser, something rarely seen when she’s in peak form. Her comments afterwards
made it clear the defeat wasn’t just tactical or physical, but physiological.
“I knew the blow was coming,” she said. “Every time I tried
to put some power on the pedals, I struggled a lot. While I normally recover
quickly.” Notably, she pointed out that her FDJ – Suez teammate and roommate
Elise Chabbey was also unwell: “I think there might be a virus in my body,
because my roommate Elise Chabbey also really suffered today.”
If it is a virus, the timing is unfortunate but manageable.
With a month to go until the Tour de France Femmes, where she hopes to reclaim
the yellow jersey she lost in 2024, there is still time to rest, recover, and
reset. Vollering’s season has been front-loaded with dominant victories so far,
and the sheer consistency of her performances in 2024 and 2025 may finally be
catching up to her.
To put things into perspective, so far in 2025 she has won
La Vuelta, Itzulia, Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, the Volta a Catalunya, and
Strade Bianche. Clearly, she is comfortably the number 1 rider in the peloton.
“I can’t always be good,” she said. “I’ve won a lot this
year, but the last few days I really went over the limit.”
That comment cuts to the heart of Vollering’s current
challenge. While her upward trajectory since 2021 has made her one of the
sport’s dominant forces, expectations now orbit around perfection. A second
place in Suisse and a tired body prompt scrutiny, but also reveal her human
side in a sport that demands so much.
Earlier this spring, Vollering looked unstoppable, and her
climbing strength at the Vuelta signalled that she was once again simply on a
different level to her rivals. But illness (or simply accumulated fatigue) can
undo even the best laid plans.
Still, this was no capitulation. Vollering battled on
despite feeling empty, and that speaks volumes about her mentality ahead of the
Tour de France Femmes. The goal is clear, and this minor setback doesn’t change
it.
The next few weeks will be about recovery. Her comments
suggest a complete shutdown, not a tweak in training, and that could be the
right call. Last year’s Tour showed how difficult it is to win when you're even
slightly off; Vollering knows better than anyone the level required to take
yellow.
The race in Switzerland may have ended with a loss, but
Vollering leaves with valuable feedback, about her body, her limits, and what’s
needed before the Tour. If this was an illness, it’s likely not a major issue.
If it’s deeper fatigue, the next three weeks will be critical.
But she’s not panicking. “I did my best every day,” she said,
and she does not think the virus will have an impact on the rest of her season.
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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