"She was still quite nervous" - FDJ boss reveals striking change in Demi Vollering between Giro and Tour triumphs
Cycling
Demi Vollering may have completed a remarkable Giro-Tour double in 2026, but according to FDJ United - SUEZ sports director Lars Boom, the Dutchwoman was still struggling with nerves during her first Grand Tour triumph of the summer.
By the time she reclaimed the Tour de France Femmes title two months later, however, Boom had witnessed such a change that the team's staff barely needed to speak to her before racing.
The contrast emerged during a season in which Vollering also won four major Classics, claimed her first elite road world title and returned to the top of the Tour podium after two successive runner-up finishes.
Despite years among the peloton's leading riders, the 29-year-old was still developing her ability to handle the pressure surrounding her biggest objectives.
Demi Vollering, Kasia Niewiadoma and Elisa Longo Borghini on the final podium at the 2026 Tour de France Femmes
From Giro nerves to complete calm at the Tour
Speaking at the Dutch Cyclist of the Year awards ceremony in Utrecht, where Vollering was honoured for her outstanding season, Boom offered an insight into her development behind the scenes.
"I think she's developed enormously on the mental side," the FDJ sports director explained, in comments reported by WielerFlits. "If I take the Giro, for example, she was still quite nervous then."
The Giro had given Vollering plenty to worry about. Former teammate Anna van der Breggen emerged as her principal rival after a commanding performance in the stage-four individual time trial, leaving the FDJ leader chasing the maglia rosa despite demonstrating her strength in the mountains.
Vollering won stage five and the shortened queen stage finishing on the Colle delle Finestre, but neither victory was enough to dislodge Van der Breggen. She eventually overturned the deficit on the final day, attacking on the Colletto di Brondello to secure her maiden Giro title and complete her collection of all three major women's Grand Tours.
By August, Boom had noticed a very different atmosphere around his leader. "At the Tour, there was complete calm, and we basically didn't need to say anything on the bus or just before the start," he recalled. "It really was a world of difference."
Vollering had arrived in France with unfinished business. Her 2024 Tour ended in heartbreak after a costly crash contributed to her losing the yellow jersey to Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney by just four seconds. A year later, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot denied her again, leaving Vollering second overall despite an otherwise hugely successful first season with FDJ.
And in 2026, Niewiadoma-Phinney once again threatened her ambitions. The Polish rider's victory on Mont Ventoux moved her into yellow with only two stages remaining, but Vollering responded by winning consecutive stages into Nice, overturning the deficit and securing her second Tour title by one minute and 18 seconds.
It was a particularly significant achievement for FDJ, who became the first French team to win the modern Tour de France Femmes. Vollering's triumph also brought an end to two years of near misses at the race that had first established her as a Grand Tour champion in 2023.
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World champion Vollering already looking towards 2027
Her Grand Tour double formed the centrepiece of an extraordinary campaign that had begun with victories at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the Tour of Flanders, Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
The rainbow jersey followed at the World Championships in Montreal, where Vollering defeated Niewiadoma-Phinney in a two-rider sprint before successfully defending her European road race title the following weekend. With 16 victories and first place in the UCI women's world rankings, she was subsequently named Dutch Female Cyclist of the Year, receiving the Keetie van Oosten-Hage Trophy.
Vollering was absent from the ceremony in Utrecht, with Boom attending on her behalf. He also offered the first indications of how FDJ intend to approach 2027, with another Tour triumph and a successful world title defence expected to take priority. "Well, I think the Tour de France again. And defending her world title," Boom said when asked about her main objectives.
A return to the Giro also remains possible, although the team's plans have yet to be finalised. "She'll ride some Classics and perhaps the Giro again," Boom continued. "It's obviously a bit predictable, but I think the Tour and the World Championships will once again be major targets."
The newly unveiled 2027 Tour de France Femmes route should suit Vollering's climbing strengths, with a demanding final weekend in the Massif Central culminating in a summit finish on the Puy de Dome. An 18-kilometre team time trial in London will also place considerable importance on the collective strength of FDJ.
Whether Vollering returns to the Giro could prove the more intriguing decision. Having demonstrated that she can win both Grand Tours in the same season before extending her form into the autumn, she has already established what is possible. With another Tour title and the rainbow jersey to defend, FDJ must now decide how much of that demanding programme they want their leader to attempt again.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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leedorney06-11-2026 - Just my opinionleedorney06-11-2026
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