'Every time I speak up, there’s criticism' - Demi Vollering on life under the spotlight

“The things I had to deal with after that World Championship... you need to be mentally strong for this, otherwise you become deeply depressed,” the Dutch FDJ-Suez rider told De Volkskrant. “Every time I speak up, there’s criticism. That’s just how it is.”

Much of the scrutiny came after the Tour de France Femmes, when her remarks about Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s weight were taken out of context. “It was another eye-opener,” she said. “People thought I didn’t want her to succeed, but that wasn’t the case at all. That was ridiculous. She hadn’t won the Tour because she was lighter, but because she had prepared incredibly well. I felt it was unfair that my message was misrepresented.”

Even now, Vollering is often reminded of what she didn’t win: the Tour and that World Championship, rather than the races she did. “That’s something I still struggle with sometimes,” she admits. “I’m my own biggest critic.”

The constant attention has forced Vollering to distance herself from social media, where comment sections can turn hostile within minutes. “It’s not easy,” she admits. “But I don’t just ride for myself. I want to show young girls that they can dream big, too.”

Vollering believes that part of the criticism she receives comes from the culture in her home country. “In other countries, athletes are celebrated for what they bring to the sport. In the Netherlands, there’s also a lot of negativity. We watch people suffer for our entertainment, and then judge them for being human.”

At 28, Vollering is among the most successful riders of her generation, and one of the favourites for this year’s Vélo d’Or. This season, she added Strade Bianche, the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina, the Vuelta España Femenina and the European Championships to her growing list of honours, along with another Tour de France Femmes podium.

Still, she knows that life at the top comes with its own challenges. “The elite sports world is tough; there are many fake people and relationships. When I get on my bike, I’m a killer. Off the bike, not so much.”

Her move from SD Worx-Protime to FDJ-Suez last winter only reinforced that reality. “There were moments when I thought: wow, I thought we were friends, apparently not. That was tough to deal with,” she said. “It taught me to stay close to the people I really trust.”

So why keep speaking her mind? Vollering smiles. “If I keep things to myself, it drains me. Then I keep thinking about it. I’d rather just say it out loud and deal with the consequences. I’m not going to become quieter.”