This Monday, the 2024 Tour de France Femmes will get underway and the heavy pre-race favourite will be last year's Maillot Jaune winner, Demi Vollering. In all likelihood however, win or lose, this is likely to be Vollering's last Tour de France in the colours of Team SD Worx - Protime.
Despite her immense success and standing as probably the leading general classification rider in the entire women's World Tour peloton, Vollering is set to part ways with Team SD Worx - Protime when her contract ends at the conclusion of this season.
According to ex-pro turned expert pundit on women's cycling, Roxanne Knetemann, the likes of the aforementioned Vollering, Lorena Wiebes and Lotte Kopecky having to share leadership in the biggest races was always a recipe for success, but also one that would bring about troubles eventually.
“Vollering has hinted in an interview that she would like to be ridden for, for once. But the whole point is that Vollering has to learn to ride more tactically. Kopecky can play out a numerical advantage like no other,” Knetemann tells Wielerrevue. "If you want a team that rides completely for you, Demi should indeed just leave. She is a super good rider who prefers to be dropped off at a certain point. Kopecky often makes sure that she is already gone, which means that Vollering then has to keep her legs still."
"They are all winners with a certain ego and cockiness," concludes Knetemann's assessment of the Team SD Worx - Protime leadership triangle. "It is not bad for cycling at all if one of the three leaves the team."
At the 2024 Tour de France Femmes, whilst Kopecky will be absent from the lineup, Vollering and Wiebes will share the leadership role, chasing both the general classification and stage wins.
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