Demi Vollering, the 29-year-old Dutch rider and leader of FDJ United-Suez, emerges as a prominent favorite for the upcoming 2025 Tour de France Femmes, commencing on Saturday in Lausanne. Known for her impressive track record, including a grand slam of all three of Europe’s Grand Tours this year, Vollering also stands out for her candid approach to important issues like women’s mental health and athlete wellbeing.

Vollering, who won the Femmes in 2023, faced a narrow defeat in 2024 to Kasia Niewiadoma, finishing just four seconds behind after a tense final stage at Alpe d’Huez. Reflecting on the media scrutiny surrounding her weight and performance, she expressed her frustration with how her words were sometimes misinterpreted, stating, "I was not happy about a lot of articles, or some subtitles, that were used, just for clicks."

In preparation for this year’s race, Vollering opted out of the Tour of Switzerland and her national championships, focusing instead on a three-week training camp in Tignes to ensure she arrives fresh and ready. Her team manager, Stephen Delcourt, emphasized the importance of this strategy after a challenging previous season.

This year's Tour features an exciting new challenge with a stage at Mont Ventoux, a climb Vollering fondly recalls from her teenage years. "That’s where I really found out I was a pretty good climber," she noted, highlighting how the ascent shaped her athletic identity.

Looking ahead, Vollering expresses enthusiasm about the Tour de France Femmes visiting Britain in the coming year, acknowledging the growing support for women’s sports. Despite the male dominance in cycling, she sees positive changes with increasing female attendance at races, marking a hopeful future for women's cycling.