🚴🇨🇭 | En zo hebben we een nieuwe situatie! Vollering en Longo Borghini nemen het heft in handen, wie kan er mee? 💪🆕 #Zurich2024 📺 Stream koers op HBO Max
Did Demi Vollering make tactical mistake at the World Championships? "It's always easy to say that afterwards"
CyclingSaturday, 28 September 2024 at 13:10
Demi Vollering showed herself to be possibly the strongest woman in the race at the World Championships in Zürich on Sunday, but she couldn’t turn that into a victory for the KNWU (Royal Dutch Cycling Union). The Swiss-based rider raced very eagerly, maybe even too eagerly. "I have to launch my own attacks somewhere, which I may have done too late this time," she said after the race.
It has to be said: the fact that Vollering still wanted and was able to speak to the press in the mixed zone in Zürich was impressive. Shivering from the cold and sobbing from disappointment, she still stopped. "But I do want to shower quickly," she understandably added beforehand.
Alright, her race story: "I felt really good, so I was happy about that. But the race wasn't tough enough. I think I should have made my move earlier," she admitted right after the women’s road race, which was won by Lotte Kopecky.
For a long time, the Dutch team had a numerical advantage, though the emphasis was on 'numerical'. "That was tricky. I had to launch my own attacks somewhere, which I may have done too late. Riejanne Markus and Marianne Vos were there on the longer climb."
Read more below the video!
Vollering: "They only react to me"
Still, Vollering and a few other riders made the jump, though it wasn’t captured on camera. "Liane Lippert accelerated on that steep little climb. I, Elisa Longo Borghini, Lotte and Chloé Dygert went along, after which I had to push on the longer climb. But it wasn’t fast enough there, and I think they knew I was going to make a move, so they kept things calm. That was unfortunate."
So, was there a tactical mistake? "It's always easy to say that afterward," Vollering responded. "It’s just tough because the pace wasn’t high enough either. Do you know what makes it even harder? Those girls don’t react to Riejanne and Marianne anymore because they’re riding to make me lose. They only react to me, because that's what they think our tactic is."
On the footage, it looked like Vollering dropped Vos, but the team leader defended herself afterward. "I was constantly looking back on the descent to see if I could spot Marianne. On that last little climb, I wanted to give it one more shot, but then Longo Borghini came over the top. I had to chase her, because otherwise, it would’ve been over for sure," she explained.
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024