Vollering suffers multiple contusions after crash, but cleared to continue
Demi Vollering sustained multiple contusions in a crash during the final kilometres of stage 3 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, her team FDJ-SUEZ confirmed. Following further medical checks on Tuesday morning, she has been cleared to start stage 4.
The incident during stage 3 occurred 3.7 kilometres from the finish in Angers, where the race was at full speed heading into a right-hand bend.
“Despite a good positioning for the entire stage, Demi Vollering suffered a crash 3.7 km from the finish line,” the team wrote. She was seen visibly in pain, limping across the line with the help of teammates, and eventually finished 143rd.
The team doctor conducted initial examinations and confirmed that Vollering had suffered multiple contusions. Later in the evening, she also underwent an initial assessment for a suspected concussion.
FDJ-SUEZ stated that “Demi Vollering and the team’s medical staff jointly decided not to go to the hospital that evening, given the non-urgent nature of her medical condition.” Instead, Vollering will be re-evaluated on Tuesday morning. “Further tests, including a second concussion protocol, will be carried out tomorrow morning to rule out any suspicion. These results will enable Demi and the team to confirm whether or not she will be at the start line tomorrow for stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.”
Last night, team manager Stephen Delcourt had already expressed his frustration with the incident, placing the blame on rider behaviour rather than the race organisers. "The mentality of some teams is unbelievable. They’re playing with people’s lives like this. Demi wants to ride at the front, but they keep cutting her off," he stated. "That crash wasn’t ASO’s fault, it was the riders. It all comes down to respect."
Vollering, winner of the 2023 edition and runner-up in both 2022 and 2024, is a key contender for this year’s race - and her loss would be a big blow to the general classification battle.
Update - Tuesday 12.00 CET
“Following further medical examinations and a second concussion protocol carried out this morning with our team doctor, the risk of concussion has been ruled out,” FDJ-SUEZ confirmed on Tuesday. “With the full support of the team, Demi is determined to take the start of stage 4. We will continue to monitor her closely throughout warm-up and the race.”
