"We still don't know much about a lot of things": Demi Vollering emphasizes the importance of understanding periods, nutrition and health

Demi Vollering is one of the main faces of women's cycling. Beyond her outstanding sporting performances, the Dutchwoman is also known for her earnest honesty during interviews, often saying more than less. But that's not always for naught as her openness helped to break some barriers and taboos of women's cycling, in particular with topics related to periods, nutrition and health among female athletes.

"Speaking about these kind of topics, I felt always kind of an obligation to be true and speak out. I also really understand that I have a voice now where I am on the level, so I really want to use my voice," Vollering said during her recent appearance on M.Talks, an interview series from nutrition sponsor Maurten.

At the end of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, Vollering shut down any discussions regarding her body weight, pointing out that it doesn't put the sport in a good light. "Because young girls are watching us. They notice what we say - and what we don’t." And that's why the FDJ - SUEZ racer spoke up.

"Sometimes I do it by accident, I'm just being too honest in an interview after the finish, [saying] that my period needs to come or something like this. Afterwards I always think it's crazy that it's still a taboo and still we don't know much about a lot of things, and that still a lot of female [athletes] still struggle or are trying to find their way in everything."

For Vollering, to hear about the health trials some of her colleagues from peloton face has been a steep learning curve: "Since I spoke up, I've heard so many more girls who say that they don't have a period at all, or that they missed cycles," she said. "I think it's often quite painful for a lot of women if they don't have a period anymore, or they worry themselves and they don't want to share it, because maybe they don't want to get pity."

"Really I had no clue that it's such a big topic or big problem for a lot of women athletes that they lose their period and that it's so far never coming back, and also that they don't get any help, or that nobody knows how to help, that there is still so much unknown. I think that's the most worrying part for them, that they have no clue why and what's next."

Rather than chase the perfect weight at any cost, Vollering emhasizes the importance of not skipping any steps; nutrition or any other aspect of the process.

"First it's most important that the basics are that you eat right before training, during training, after training, that you always make sure that you have energy to recover and to be ready for the next day. That's what young girls maybe almost forget in their journey, they want to go so fast so they think 'what can I do better? Ah, maybe it's eating less on the bike or after the bike' but often it's not."

"Try to eat good before the ride, during the ride and after the ride, just really focus on your recovery instead of trying to be as light as possible. That's really a small piece that comes all the way in the end – first you need to make sure that you're always energised for your training and that you can give 100 per cent in your training, because that's where you get stronger," she concludes.