"There were so many moments I thought I went too early" - Demi Vollering conquers rainbow jersey at long last
CyclingSaturday, 26 September 2026 at 20:24
Dem Vollering has become World Champion for the first time in her career at the Montréal World Championships. The FDJ-Suez rider was the strongest in the Canadian road race and managed to beat Katarzyna Niewiadoma and Elisa Longo Borghini to take the victory.
"I think I can still not believe it. Like I said before, I truly before, I had this dream in my heart for a reason. i worked so hard towards this goal, it takes guts to truly believe in it with your whole heart and to gather a team around you with such strong girls..." Vollering said in a post-race interview.
The Dutch team took control of the race early on and it was Maeva Squiban who was the first to put real pressure. With three ascents left to the end of the race Vollering went on the attack, launched by a Puck Pieterse that sacrificed her chances to win the race.
"They all sacrificed for you, maybe they also have a chance and go for it. But only for you, it's a lot to ask for them, but I'm so proud for every rider from the team, we took the race into our hands, whole race in the front, then Puck did an amazing leadout and I could just not finish the job," Vollering admitted.
Demi Vollering won the Montréal World Championships
Vollering caught but still victorious
But the road into the finish line was not smooth sailing. Elisa Longo Borghini and Katarzyna Niewiadoma united on several occasions and managed to reel her back in still far from the finish.
"There were so many moments I thought I went too early, it stayed so close the whole time, I had to turn around and look back because I was like 'I feel like they're almost in my wheel already'. Then it was 20 seconds, 22, 15... At one point they came back and I was like 'oh shit', but I had to believe in it," Vollering continued. "I just dared and tried again, and never game up at the finish line".
Vollering wins another duel with Niewiadoma
The finale was a matter of who could resist the high pace the longest. Vollering attacked the final ascent and went off the front with Niewiadoma. Between the two, Vollering was the strongest in the final sprint.
"I was not planning on giving it away anymore from that moment I was like 'no, it's mine'," Vollering said following the finish.
"I think it was an amazing race to watch, I'm very proud to be part of that, I cannot wait to watch it back".
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- Couldn’t agree more!anonymouscyclist26-09-2026
- Based on Remco’s style of riding vs Del Toro’s, I’d say Remco would beat Del Toro in a sprint. That being said, I don’t think it’ll come to that. Based on the women’s race today, I don’t think Remco will be able to stay with Del Toro in the final laps. Either way, we’re in for some solid, entertaining racing with a bit of drama from the Aero Bullet.anonymouscyclist26-09-2026
- Agreed, hopefully the boys will deliver as much of a spectacle tomorrow.Jumpyjohn26-09-2026
- That was incredible, what a podium! I love Longo Borghini, but my o my did Vollering deserve this win!!RidesHills26-09-2026
- YES DEMI!!! You legend! Amazing win! What. A. Race. Could not look away. What a season for Demi. Finally able to call herself champion of the world, and it’s so deserved. This jersey could not go to a better role model for young women in our sport.anonymouscyclist26-09-2026
- What a race. Everyone gave it their all.Mistermaumau26-09-2026
- Thanks, that’s possibly going to be more of a factor than any riders’ advantage.Mistermaumau26-09-2026
- You are betting on DT smoking himJumpyjohn26-09-2026
- Wout is one of the most honest cyclists in the peleton. Chapeau to him.PogiSloFans26-09-2026
- i am not assuming anything, it is Remco who is betting on his sprint against Del toroabstractengineer26-09-2026
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