Demi Vollering managed to crown herself the winner of the first big round for women last Sunday. The Dutch woman triumphed with dominance in the Vuelta Feminina, although she did not exactly owe this to the great help of her team(mates).
Cold war with your own team
Dutch journalist Thijs Zonneveld had already pointed this out last Friday. During that ride, Vollering was allowed to do everything on her own, which she did with verve. But it is clear that the relationship between her and the team management, and possibly also her teammates, is no longer optimal.
“Two of her teammates sat there and watched it. They didn’t lift a finger, they didn’t take an extra step. It was as if Demi Vollering was the leader of another team. As if the next season had secretly already started,” Zonneveld is once again critical to Algemeen Dagblad.
“Vollering and SD/Worx drove around Spain last week like ex-lovers from a collapsed marriage who still went on holiday together because it had already been booked. The position of SD/Worx in particular hurts your eyes,” he says anything but spares the Dutch team.
Pathetic message
It has been known for several weeks now that Vollering will leave after the season. However, how that departure was announced already made Zonneveld shudder. While Vollering was on his bike in Dwars door Vlaanderen, this was broadcast to the world via social media.
“The statement that SD/Worx sent out just before the Tour of Flanders was also telling when Vollering rejected an offer to extend her contract. Sour, pathetic, with an undertone that portrayed Vollering as a money-grabber.”
Vollering is the smartest
At the same time, Zonneveld is of the opinion that Vollering himself has not always been free from guilt. “In the Dutch selection she was regularly a discordant and she sometimes gave interviews from the Naive & Clumsy category. But it seems like she turned the switch this year. She hardly responds to anything.”
But Vollering receives the full support of the Dutch journalist in this matter. “If she doesn’t get support from her team, then not. She will do it herself. From the Vuelta via the Games to the Tour and the World Cup – and then she is counting down the days until she can close the door behind her at SD/Worx. Get out of there. She is absolutely right.”
