"Lotte Kopecky is of course a competitor" admits Demi Vollering: "But it would be great to become world champion"

On Saturday, it is going to be the elite women's turn to fight for the Rainbow Jersey in the 2024 World Championships road race. Arguably the two standout contenders, are trade teammates at Team SD Worx - Protime, Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky.

"Kopecky is of course a competitor," Vollering admits in her pre-race press conference, with quotes collected by In de Leiderstrui. The Dutchwoman isn't going to be looking exclusively at her SD Worx teammate though, noting other standout challengers for victory. "Kasia Niewiadoma and Elisa Longo Borghini will also be good. Then you have types like Kristen Faulkner and Grace Brown, ladies who you should not give any space."

Alongside Vollering in Zürich is a Dutch team that arguably represents the strongest squad of any in the entire field. "I may be the leader, but we can also play Puck Pieterse and Marianne Vos, for example. And we certainly have to dare to do that, because many riders will be watching me," Vollering explains. "Ultimately, the end goal is gold for the Netherlands, but from the moment I heard that the World Championship was in Switzerland, I knew that I wanted to go for it."

The former Tour de France Femmes champion is also confident the parcours is suited to her capabilities. "That first climb is of course super steep, but short. Then you stay on a kind of plateau, where there is also a lot of twisting and turning. If you are at the back there, then you are on the stretcher. And then it becomes very tough, which you also saw well with the juniors. It really becomes a kind of elimination race, I think," she previews. "The weather can also play a role. I normally don't mind rain, but it does make it a bit more exciting. It's also a bit cooler, but we've had some cold days recently."

Ultimately though, Vollering is ringing full of confidence. "It would be great to become world champion now," she concludes. "I would prefer to become it as soon as possible."