FDJ-Suez sports director teams up with Vollering for more autonomy: "Stam shared more with Van der Breggen than with me"

SD Worx-Protime has been the team to beat in women's cycling in recent years, and 2025 looks no different, with the Dutch squad remaining a dominant force in many races. But there’s growing competition. FDJ-SUEZ is making significant strides, most notably with the arrival of Demi Vollering. Former SD Worx sports director Lars Boom has also joined the French team and explained to Daniel Benson why FDJ-SUEZ is set to be the main challenger.

With Vollering as the new team leader, the pieces are falling into place for the French squad. "I knew Demi was going to change, and I knew Stephen (Delcourt, general manager, ed.) was also looking for somebody else," Boom explained. "So a few people got us in contact, and straight away it was good." At FDJ-SUEZ, openness is key. "The culture is not that different. Everybody’s open and happy to share and communicate with each other, and that’s the main difference I think. It’s nice to talk with everybody and think about cycling, about how you see the roles of different riders."

As sports director, Boom will take on a more independent role. "I think I have more responsibility here, and I was also ready for that. I missed that a bit with Danny (Stam, ed.). I’m not going to say anything bad about him because I really liked working with him. But he started the team on his own, I think with Erwin (Janssen, sports director at SD Worx-Protime, ed.), and he still runs the team almost alone and doesn’t share that much."

Stam had a closer relationship with Anna van der Breggen, sharing more with her than with Boom. "That’s okay, but it’s also why I’m here, because I was ready to have more responsibility. Together with Nico (Maire, sports director, ed.), I can do that here. We’re equals, we will all make the big calls together."

The clear division of roles and better communication at FDJ-SUEZ is a relief for the former cyclo-cross rider. "Danny really likes to be at the race, and that role really suits him. Stephen is doing more of the business side of the team, and he does that pretty well. Over here we have more people who work with each other and communicate well with each other. That’s why I think Stephen is putting down a great team."

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At FDJ-Suez, Lars Boom will get to be in the driver's seat more.

Boom saw Vollering split with SD Worx: "The friction had already begun"

Boom had a front-row seat to the growing tensions between Vollering and SD Worx-Protime. While the eventual split was amicable, there had been constant friction throughout 2024 and even earlier. "It was obvious Demi was leaving quite early, so probably the friction began already. It happens in every good marriage after you get divorced!"

At her new team, Vollering is the biggest name, but she’s not the only leader. FDJ-SUEZ also boasts Évita Muzic, who finished fourth in last year’s Tour de France Femmes, and French champion Juliette Labous, who joined for the new season. The exact roles within the team are still being discussed. "We’ve started to talk already with Juliette, Évita, Demi, about those things, about Grand Tours and leadership. We’re really open between the four of us."

One thing is certain: Vollering will ride the Tour. Beyond that, plans are still flexible. "We will split some Grand Tours for sure, because we need to focus on a few goals. For example, Demi had quite a busy calendar in my opinion the last few years, so we will change that a bit. We can focus more on some training, and later altitude before the Tour and be in good shape in the Tour. Same also for Évita and for Juliette. It’s a little bit SD Worx-style because we have a few leaders, and all of the three can win."

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Demi Vollering, Juliette Labous and Évita Muzic: the three leading ladies for FDJ-SUEZ.

Boom on Kopecky's chances: "This year is is a few days longer and more uphill"

Boom has learned a lot as a sports director at SD Worx-Protime and brings that experience to his new role. "The last few years we raced to win, and I was always used to racing with riders who could win, or we tried with riders who were not the favorite and we also won. So I think tactics-wise I’m quite well evolved other the last few years, so I’m happy to share that with the others here."

At his former team, it was recently announced that Lotte Kopecky will be their leader for the Tour de France Femmes, aiming for the yellow jersey. Boom sees her as a serious competitor. "She was really close (in 2023, ed.) and she’s a really strong athlete. This year, the route is a few days longer and maybe a little more uphill so it can be different, but never say never."

Van der Breggen, meanwhile, remains a dark horse at SD Worx-Protime. "I hope for Anna she will do really good, but she’s almost two or three years out of the sport and I think the sport has changed quite a bit," Boom said honestly about his former colleague. "I hope and know she’ll do well, because I’ve seen her the last few years with the riders and her level was always still really good. But riding in a peloton and taking risks is a whole different ballgame nowadays to three years ago, so let’s see. I think she’ll be competitive."

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