‘It really changed the plans we had’ – Demi Vollering ‘disappointed’ after queen stage win at Giro d’Italia Women as she fails to distance GC rivals on shortened mountain day

Demi Vollering secured a victory on the shortened queen stage of the Giro d’Italia Women but expressed mixed emotions after failing to create a decisive gap over her main general classification rivals. Despite a strong performance on the Colle delle Finestre climb, the stage was cut short due to avalanche risk, forcing the finish line to be moved closer to the summit. This abrupt change disrupted Vollering’s team strategy, preventing her from distancing Anna van der Breggen and others in the crucial mountain phase. The alteration of the stage came just as Vollering’s FDJ United-SUEZ squad was setting a fierce pace on the climb, aiming to isolate Van der Breggen and launch a winning attack. With the finish line moved to just 1km from the peak, the race dynamics shifted dramatically, leaving little room for the planned long-range assault. Vollering acknowledged the difficulty of adapting on the fly, admitting that the shortened distance forced her to attack earlier than intended, ultimately resulting in a sprint finish where she edged out Van der Breggen, Antonia Niedermaier, and Isabella Holmgren. Vollering’s reflections revealed a blend of satisfaction and frustration. While pleased to claim her second stage win of the race, she was disappointed that the altered circumstances hindered her ability to challenge Van der Breggen more effectively for the pink jersey. She highlighted the unpredictable nature of racing on open roads, where external factors such as weather and safety concerns can abruptly change plans. Vollering remains realistic about her chances, recognising that the final stage, a 145km undulating route in Saluzzo, offers limited opportunities to overturn the time deficit. Currently 49 seconds behind Van der Breggen, who has demonstrated formidable form including a dominant uphill time trial, Vollering conceded that wresting the overall lead will be a significant challenge. She indicated that her team would regroup to consider possible tactics for the closing stage but suggested that the pink jersey is likely to remain with Van der Breggen, who is on course to claim her fifth Giro d’Italia Women title after returning from retirement last season. Vollering expressed a pragmatic outlook, acknowledging that if victory proves elusive this year, she will aim to mount another challenge in the future.