“I’m surprised by how much of a reaction my words get – negative responses too”: Demi Vollering continues with open comments on how period pains affect women in sport

In a sport that often prides itself on grit, silence, and stoicism, Demi Vollering is choosing to speak up — and speak plainly — about an issue that continues to remain largely unspoken in elite competition: the impact of the menstrual cycle on female athletes’ performance.

Fresh off her dominant solo victory at the 2025 European Championships in France, the Dutch cyclist has once again opened up about the physical and psychological effects of competing while on her period. The honesty is striking. The reaction, she says, is often even more so. “It surprises me how much of a reaction my words get in society,” Vollering told Het Nieuwsblad. “Unfortunately, there are negative responses too. But overall, it’s positive — and if I can help even a few people by talking about it, that makes me very happy.”

The 28-year-old has increasingly used her platform to discuss the challenges faced by women in professional sport, challenging long-standing taboos. Her willingness to be candid about such topics — previously brushed aside or kept private — is now contributing to a growing wave of athletes advocating for transparency around menstrual health in elite performance environments.

Vollering’s remarks come after a mixed World Championship campaign in Rwanda, where she finished a frustrating seventh in the road race. She now confirms that the underwhelming result was at least partly due to timing — not of tactics, but biology. “I had the same problem as during Liège–Bastogne–Liège earlier this year,” she said, referencing her period. “In Rwanda, it hit me again.”

She goes on to explain in simple physiological terms what this means for performance. “Your heart rate and body temperature are higher, your breathing becomes more irregular. You just don’t feel right in your body, and that also affects your confidence. But if you get through that phase, like I did at the Euros, sometimes you fly.”

That "flight" came in the form of a 39-kilometre solo effort on the challenging French roads, a ride Vollering described as deeply satisfying — not only for the gold medal and European champion’s jersey, but for what it represented: a return to herself. “I knew that long climb suited me, and that’s where I wanted to make my move,” she said. “I wanted to finish it off for the team. We achieved this together.”

The win marked a cathartic moment after a season of highs and disruptions. Illness at the Tour de Suisse had derailed her mid-season form, but a high-altitude training block in Livigno leading into the Worlds had seemed promising — until menstruation struck again at the worst possible moment.

Despite her status as one of the peloton’s most dominant forces, Vollering is quick to step beyond the usual script of wins and wattage. She sees value not just in podiums, but in progress — especially when it comes to what sport demands of women, and how little it often gives back in terms of support or understanding.

“Sometimes I try to do too much,” she admits, reflecting on the World Championships in Zurich last year. “I was trying to manage everything — it all had to be perfect — and it just didn’t work. This time, I decided to let go a bit more. I even talked about that with national coach Laurens ten Dam. And everything just clicked.”

She is, by her own admission, a competitor at heart. She carries pressure into every race, shoulders expectations, and holds herself to high standards. But when it all comes together — as it did at the Europeans — the reward is amplified by knowing it was done as a team, and on her own terms. “There are always disappointments — like at the Worlds — but I don’t dwell on the past. I’m a winner, and I always look ahead. And when we win like this, together, it’s even more satisfying.”