Relationship between SD Worx and Vollering was not at all strained, despite the choice for Kopecky: "Pure gossip"

The Italian cyclist had a special bond with Vollering, as she revealed to Bici.PRO. "We shared a room a few times, especially during our first year at SD Worx in 2021. I got to know her on a personal level, which helped me a lot in embracing my role as her wingman. It was a joy to work with and for her. Both the team and I personally will miss her deeply. She’s an athlete who gives you the feeling that anything is possible.”

Cecchini emphasized that although their professional paths are diverging, their friendship will remain intact. "The beauty of bonds like this is that they stay with you. Demi and I will stay in touch. We are, first and foremost, friends. Demi’s decision was purely professional, but it doesn’t change what we’ve built and shared together." What is it about Vollering that really stood out to Cecchini? "Her confidence. She has an incredibly determined but deeply sensitive personality, which made it easy to connect with her. She’s someone who openly shares her emotions and feelings, even in public."

Vollering’s emotions were often on display this year, especially during her victory in the Vuelta a España. "When you watch her race, you immediately know what she wants — both from her teammates and from herself. During this year’s Vuelta, she wore the red jersey, but you could tell she wasn’t 100 percent sure of herself, even after she had proven to be the strongest. That hesitation stemmed from losing the race by just a few seconds in 2023. During the race, I stayed close to her and reminded her not to worry. Sometimes, just one word can make all the difference."

The Tour de France ended in disappointment: Vollering’s much-discussed crash and the team’s decisions at the time were major factors in her eventually losing the race. "I wasn’t there and didn’t experience the dynamics of that moment," the Italian explained. "I only know that under normal circumstances, Vollering would have won. On the day of the crash, I don’t know exactly what happened. But anyone who knows anything about cycling knows that Demi was the strongest in the Tour. Like other Dutch athletes, she has an undeniable ability to just get back up again."

Next year, Vollering will race for a French team. Cecchini believes her new squad should focus on what lies ahead, not dwell on the past. "Whoever coaches Demi Vollering from now on should focus on her future, not on the past." SD Worx-Protime openly decided to prioritize its project with Lotte Kopecky, which seemed to spark tension. "A lot has been written and said, but I think it’s all pure gossip. Up until the Tour, those connections were calm and relaxed. I wasn’t at La Grande Boucle, so I don’t know if things changed from that point on. But in October, we were all at ease and happy with what we’d built together."