Finally some Spanish sun, after a long period of cold in Switzerland for Vollering: "It’s not always easy"

Many pro cyclists kick off their December and January training under the warm Spanish sun, climbing the Col de Rates or riding laps around Mallorca as they gear up for the season’s first races and goals. But Demi Vollering takes a different approach, showing that spending time with family can be just as valuable before diving into a busy cycling year.

"This is how I love life!" Vollering writes in an Instagram post. "Sharing a few pictures to reflect on some of my favorite moments from my time at home, where the days were a mix of hard work, fun, and a lot of power naps, thanks to Flo," the Dutch rider reflects.

Vollering lives in Switzerland, so the mountains are always nearby. However, in winter, it’s far from an ideal training environment. But that doesn’t bother her. "There were definitely moments when the cold made things tough, but honestly, I love a good challenge. It pushed me to make the most out of every single day, no matter what."

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Training in winter conditions has its benefits according to Vollering

That’s one way to look at it. Warm sunshine on your skin is nice, of course, but in a sport that revolves around enduring pain, training in winter conditions might actually have its advantages. Ultimately, as Vollering knows, it’s all about finding balance in cycling and life. "It’s not always easy though. The real challenge is finding the balance where you feel happy, where you’re challenged, where you get enough rest, and where you still have the energy to keep going."

Even the 28-year-old Vollering isn’t immune to human struggles. Whether you’re a pro or an amateur cyclist, everyone has days when they don’t feel like getting on the bike. In freezing temperatures, the hurdle becomes even bigger. "The truth is, motivation doesn’t always show up. Even for me, as a pro athlete. It’s all about discipline and building habits, then mastering them to carry you through so that eventually, it just becomes second nature. Trust me, you can do it as well! Go for it!"

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Vollering tries to inspire, even when people are targeting her

Vollering often comes up with inspirational texts on social media. She is clever because by no means everyone in the cycling world seems to like her. Analyst Bobbie Traksel recently told Eurosport that he doubts the qualities of the leading lady. "She has had a lot of clashes at SD Worx-Protime. I don't know how well that is managed at FDJ. Vollering is a typical power rider but not a cyclist. That may sound unbelievable because she is, in my opinion, the best rider in the world. But when it comes to the tactical part, cycling begins."

It was a reference to Vollering's somewhat disappointing 2024, in which she was unable to continue her extraordinarily successful 2023. For example, she lost her Tour de France Femmes title to Kasia Niewiadoma. Teammate Lotte Kopecky and former Lidl-Trek star Elisa Longo Borghini performed the best in the spring. We would almost forget that Vollering still won fifteen (!) times in 2024, including stage and overall wins in the Vuelta a España, Burgos, and Switzerland.

In 2025, she will ride for FDJ-SUEZ against her former SD Worx-Protime teammates. On Wednesday, for a second training camp, the frozen water bottles were exchanged for the Spanish sun.  

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