"It’s really disappointing" - Dutch journalist questions Demi Vollering's post time trial statements

Demi Vollering went into the World Championships time trial in Kigali as one of the leading favourites. She had been targeting the rainbow jersey and, given her form and undeniable talent, many expected her to push Marlen Reusser for the win on a course that featured hills. Instead, the Dutch rider had to settle for bronze behind Reusser and Anna van der Breggen. Afterward, Vollering was candid about her struggles on the demanding Rwandan course.

“The air quality is different here of course, but I didn’t struggle too much with the heat itself. My heart rate was just really high today, and I need to sit down, review everything and see what it was. But I think everybody struggled. If I can be third with these legs, then it shows how hard it was for everyone.”

That statement has already stirred discussion in the Netherlands. On the podcast In Het Wiel, Roxane Knetemann reflected on Vollering’s words and the bigger picture. “Afterwards, you heard from Vollering that the values she achieved were completely unrepresentative of the European country. She actually meant to say they were incredibly bad, but she still came in third with them,” Knetemann began.

Knetemann sympathised with her compatriot’s disappointment. “She simply came for so much more than that bronze medal. So it’s really disappointing. But let’s be honest: she rode a resounding first leg. By the second intermediate point, you could already see on the video that she was really struggling.”

From there, Knetemann said the footage told its own story. “You can see her struggling and finding a rhythm. If you ride that well and get onto the podium, I think you’re riding a very good time trial.”

Still, she noted a recurring pattern in Vollering’s post-race explanations. “You know what I think about that... In the Tour, she actually started talking about how her rival is far too thin in her opinion and that she’d rather not be skin and bones. Now she’s not winning and she’s having physical problems.”

For Knetemann, part of this is simply the reality of top-level sport. “Yes, that’s all part of elite sports. If your period is just starting or if it’s... we don’t know that here. But then it’s incredibly frustrating, of course. I think that’s true: if you’re experiencing so much discomfort and this is your big goal for the week, it’s pretty frustrating.”

She also wondered whether Vollering could address some of the issues more directly. “Couldn’t you see a doctor to see what you can do about it? It can’t be that every time you want to peak, you might be hindered by your menstrual cycle. I’m speaking as someone who has no problems with her cycle,” she added.

Looking at the bigger picture, Knetemann argued that Vollering sometimes searches too much for explanations. “Vollering’s statements after races often echo the same sentiment. I just think there’s always something that’s stopping her from doing it right. It could just be that this is just her form today, and there’s no explaining why. She’s riding a fantastic time trial for me, and she’s fighting for what she’s worth. Period. Saturday is another day.”