"We could have done things differently" - Marianne Vos' chances of world title partly crushed by compatriot Demi Vollering

Cycling
Sunday, 29 September 2024 at 11:14
mariannevos
The Netherlands found themselves in a great situation into the final lap of the race but came out of it without a medal. Although Marianne Vos didn't have the best climbing legs, because of her early attack she was actually in a strong position to win the race... But the many attacks in the final kilometers made it impossible, and this included Demi Vollering's moves.
Vos was in a group of four entering the final lap with a minute over the peloton and had Riejanne Markus pace in the group for her. It was an almost ideal situation for the veteran, a former World Champion who found herself again in a position to do it. The gap was enough to go over the two main climbs still in the front of the race, with the main favourites behind arriving in very small groups.
"We could have done things differently indeed. I knew it would explode from behind. Up until a certain point, that was a good situation for us. When we are ahead, you know that you are putting pressure on the competition. That would be good for Demi," Vos says. 
But Vollering wanted the title as well, and as has happened before in World or European championships, riders of the same team race for themselves. Vollering could not outsprint her rivals at the finish line in Zurich, and so she attempted to attack several times on the many small climbs. Her attacks dropped Vos, who wouldn't be able to return to the head of the race ahead.
In the end Vollering was the team's best, in fifth place. “That’s also the game. Of course we are disappointed too. We didn’t come here to fall off the podium. We did everything we could. In hindsight, you might have done it differently. That’s for sure". Vos was eighth at the finish line, sprinting in the first chasing group over a minute behind the winning group where Lotte Kopecky raised her arms in glory.
“I didn’t have legs left. The moment Demi goes and there are six gone, then it’s fingers crossed and hoping that it will work out. If you start analyzing, we will definitely see that there are points where we could have done it differently".
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6 Comments
petjo 30 September 2024 at 07:55+ 25

Vollering was riding for herself in spite of the nation she represented. Fair enough, let Vos go and follow any attacks. If after that Vos gets swallowed up, you have a chance, but you don't put your own team members to the sword. I am glad she finished off the podium. Totally self centred riding deserves nothing but failure.

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RickHellard 29 September 2024 at 18:39+ 11

At a certain point, they all have to think about themselves for the win. Demi just did it a bit earlier than may have been ideal.

We'll never know and it does not matter: the race is over, and without an alternate universe, it's all just speculation as to what might have been.

acem82 29 September 2024 at 18:39+ 555

As race director, I would have told Demi to attack, too. Yes, it might drop Vos, but Kopecky was going to win the sprint anyhow.

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KerisVroom 29 September 2024 at 13:45+ 753

Demi dropped Vos to secure the win for herself. Unfortunately, going solo meant that she couldn't play team tactics and then had to cover the attacks by herself. Not to mention, she isn't the best sprinter in the group.

mij 29 September 2024 at 21:45+ 818

and now we perhaps know why SD Worx didn't support Demi. she rides for herself, she seems to be very full of herself.

abstractengineer 30 September 2024 at 07:57+ 3134

There is no partly, Demi Destroyed Vos- Simple fact and she was her teammate

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