Vollering thanks power naps and constant tears after yellow stunt: "A lot of people think it's bullshit"

Demi Vollering surprised not only the spectators but especially herself with her victory in the time trial of the Tour de France Femmes. The defending champion shed tears after the double in the second stage of the day, the result of two stressful days, many friends and family, and confirmation that she is once again riding around the Tour in top form. Because Charlotte Kool crossed the line 25 seconds after Vollering, the Team SD Worx-Protime rider grabbed a double victory with yellow.

Vollering was already with the best at the first intermediate point but gained five seconds on eventual number two Chloé Dygert in the second section. Speaking to NOS, it was clear that Vollering had not expected the victory. "I am stunned. I didn't see this one coming, and I don't quite know yet," she stammered. "The times I looked at my power meter, I thought: okay, it's going well. It's tough; you do very little in such a short trial. I had thought this would be something for the sprinters and the punchy riders like Chloé."

What made this double special was that it happened on home soil. "That I'm already taking the yellow here; I didn't see that coming, so I think that's beautiful," Vollering told me while sobbing. Although she hoped to drag the yellow jersey up the Alpe d'Huez with her on Sunday, the expectation was that she would get the yellow later. That she gets to ride the jersey out of the country on Wednesday is lovely. "That's already something extraordinary. Actually, for my idea, it only counts from tomorrow. I already have the yellow, and now is a moment of shifting gears."

She again emphasized wearing her brand-new yellow jersey in the mixed zone. "We didn't see this one coming, and I was busy all day on Wednesday. I tried to get as much rest as possible and did two power naps, twenty minutes on the bus and later in my hotel room. I thought: this won't work at all, I'm way too relaxed. But apparently, it was good for me. Sometimes, like at the Olympics, you work hard for something, but it doesn't work out. You were so focused and nervous there, but now I was calm and did my thing... After I heard that I might have the fastest time, I didn't believe it."

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Vollering deliberately shed tears lately

Vollering worked through the flash interview, the mixed zone, and the press conference with tears in her eyes. The yellow and the stage win greatly affected her, and she is no longer ashamed to show it. "Fortunately, because that means it still does a lot to me. I know there are a lot of people who think it's all just bullshit, but it's my strength that I put all my emotion into the sport. That's where I go hard and have such a strong feeling. I rode and trained on my feelings and tried to push them away and ignore them for a while. That's not the best thing for me; it's better to let it go and live in the moment."

"So much comes off with so many people I love and are so proud of you," she said. "You work so hard for it, and everyone around you sacrifices for my career. And not only my family but my team and friends sympathize. That this kind of thing succeeds makes it all very beautiful."

In the press conference, she emphasized again that meditation helps her manage her emotions. "I am an empathetic person, and since this year, I have tried to use my emotions even more as a force. Sport is emotion; you don't have to be strong or tough. I like to meditate and get in the zone. Then, I try to become one with my body because too often, as humans, we live with our heads. We sleepwalk through the days, but you have to have a good connection with yourself as an athlete. You often see me breathing in and out on the bike, trying to get into the flow. Meditation helps with that and allows you to tolerate the pain better."

Bram van der Ploeg (Twitter: @BvdPloegg | email: [email protected])      

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