This spring’s Classics campaign had been frustrating for Demi Vollering. The Dutch leader of FDJ-Suez started strong, with third place in the Omloop Nieuwsblad at the Belgian opening weekend, followed by a thrilling win at Strade Bianche Donne, highlighting the budding but already imposing relationship between Vollering and her French teammate and National Champion Juliette Labous. But victory then escaped her in the Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio (11th), Milano-Sanremo Donne (4th), Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition (20th), La Flèche Wallonne Féminine (2nd) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes (3rd).
Vollering was up there at the front displaying the skills that have already make her a legend of her sport, but someone always stood in her way… That was not to worry Stephen Delcourt, General Manager at FDJ-Suez, convinced that “stage races will show where everyone stands. In a one-day race, lots of things can happen, like in Amstel where it was mostly tactical, but strength, and above all collective strength, will show in the stage races.”
La Vuelta España Femenina by Carrefour.es proved his point: Vollering stood on the top step, as she often does in stage races, especially in Spain, and FDJ-Suez showed their strength in depth, with Labous (5th) and Évita Muzic (10th) making three in the top-10 overall standings. With all the expectations surrounding the French team this year, it almost felt natural… But it’s also historic: as she put her stamp on the Alto de Cotobello to win La Vuelta for the second successive year, Vollering gave FDJ-Suez their first ever Grand Tour victory.
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