"It’s not just a story" - Demi Vollering basks in Tour de France Femmes glory as she brings yellow jersey to team's hometown
CyclingWednesday, 12 August 2026 at 18:00
Demi Vollering brought her Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey to the French town of Poitiers, the home of her FDJ-Suez team. Fulfilling a long-standing goal for the France-based team, Vollering won her second La Grand Boucle crown last Sunday.
The Dutchwoman took hold of the yellow jersey after stage 8 and made a statement in the leader's jersey in the finale as she took a solo victory in Nice. Besting Kasia Niewiadoma in the finale, Vollering underlined her position as the best women's rider in the world.
The first-ever two-time winner of the Tour de Fance Femmes, Vollering has enjoyed one of the best seasons of her career and is primed to dominate the women's peloton for seasons to come.
“The story of how we brought the yellow jersey to Poitiers,” she said in a social media post.
Reflecting on her Tour success, Vollering zoned in on the memories her success created, forged by her career setbacks and injuries.
Vollering focuses on memories forged by hard times
"I love great stories, and bringing the yellow jersey to a French team is definitely one I wanted to add to my memories. And we did it! I am so incredibly grateful for this wonderful story—a story we will tell our children with all our hearts.
"Because for us, it’s not just a story—it’s the memories of the emotions, the passion, the hard work, the setbacks, the pain, the love, the feeling of having the world at our feet, but above all, of being together as a team. A team that dared to dream, that dared to try with courage, but always knowing that we were in it together!”
For Vollering, it's all about the journey as she shared her success with her teammates and staff. Mentioning team boss Stephen Delcourt and her coach Lieselot Decroix, she tanked all who contributed to the success.
Demi Vollering, Kasia Niewiadoma and Elisa Longo Borghini on the final podium at the 2026 Tour de France Femmes
Vollering on the journey
"It's the journey to get there that makes the story so beautiful. We all have our own stories about how we got here to the yellow jersey, but we share a passion for our sport! Thank you, team!! You all know how important you are to me—riders and staff!.
"A special shout-out to Stephen Delcourt: Just look at the team you've built. And thanks to my coach, Lieselot Decroix: thank you for coaching me during the good times and, especially, the tough times," Vollering added.
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Thanking her family and partners, she also acknowledged her general classification rivals for pushing boundaries, concluding her social media lap of honour by paying tribute to the fans.
"Thank you, Jan, and also to my family, who remind me to do everything with total dedication," she continued. "Thank you to all our partners for your support as we pursue our dreams. Thanks to my competitors, who made this race so much fun to watch. And thanks to all the fans who came out to cheer us on - you made this unforgettable."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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