'It was super hard' – Demi Vollering conquers the cobbles to claim elusive victory at the Tour of Flanders

Demi Vollering secured a long-awaited victory at the Tour of Flanders, finally conquering the challenging cobbled classic after several near misses in previous editions. The European Champion launched a decisive attack on the penultimate climb, the Oude Kwaremont, distancing all her rivals with a powerful seated acceleration. She then extended her lead on the Paterberg and maintained her advantage to the finish line in Oudenaarde, marking her third Monument win following her successes at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The race was a testament to both Vollering’s strength and the crucial support of her team, FDJ United-SUEZ. She praised her teammates for their efforts in keeping her fresh for the finale, emphasising how vital their work was to her success. Vollering described the effort as incredibly painful but said she focused on maintaining calm and determination through the suffering, ultimately enjoying the moment after years of striving for this particular victory. French rider Pauline Ferrand-Prévot was the only competitor able to respond to Vollering’s acceleration, but she lacked the power to stay with the Dutch rider and had to settle for second place once again, repeating her runner-up finish from the previous year. The fight for the remaining podium places saw Puck Pieterse out-sprint Lotte Kopecky for third, while Kopecky narrowly beat Zoe Bäckstedt in the sprint for fourth, highlighting a competitive finale among the chasing group. Vollering’s triumph at the Tour of Flanders not only adds a prestigious Monument to her palmarès but also signals her continued rise as one of women’s cycling’s most formidable classics riders. With her team playing a pivotal role and her own resilience on full display, this victory could mark the start of further success in the cobbled classics season. The race results underscore the depth of talent in women’s cycling and set the stage for an exciting campaign ahead.