At the World Gravel Championships held in Veneto, Demi Vollering was the undisputed favorite among the elite women. The 26-year-old Dutch rider appeared to be a strong contender for victory throughout the race but ultimately couldn't respond to a blistering acceleration by the eventual winner, Kasia Niewiadoma. After completing the challenging 140-kilometer gravel race through the prosecco region, Vollering, who ultimately secured the bronze medal, addressed several important questions during the post-race press conference.
The opening question to the winner of the Tour de France Femmes was, "Were you able to enjoy the beautiful scenery a bit as well?" In response, Vollering momentarily hesitated, allowing a meaningful pause before she began her analysis. She stated, "It was incredibly tough. Did I have a chance to enjoy the beautiful surroundings? I did during the reconnaissance, but not during the actual race. At one point, I was struggling so much that I felt like I was almost dozing off. I even considered the possibility of staying put if I fell because I was so exhausted. That's how challenging it was. Shortly after, when I checked how much distance we still had to cover, I was taken aback. We still had forty kilometers to go." She vividly described the surreal nature of the championship.
"I also encountered issues with my nutrition, which made the race even more demanding," she continued. "Furthermore, the Italian riders put immense pressure on me right from the start. In summary, it was an arduous battle for survival, and I am utterly drained. I believe the same holds true for the other participants. And then came that incredibly tough finale. On the final steep climb, Kasia made a decisive move. Unfortunately, I couldn't match her pace. Thankfully, Silvia Perisco was still with me, and we worked together. However, we never saw Kasia again."
Somebody of Vollering's caliber has completed countless challenging races in her career as a matter of course. However, she places the gravel race in northeastern Italy at the very top of her list of demanding races. 'Gravel races are incomparable to other types of races, not even the toughest road races. It's truly something unique. I had plenty of time to think on the course, and I realized that I've never encountered a road race as grueling as this world championship. The gravel terrain makes it exceptionally tough. You have to maintain even more focus than usual, and the corners pose an even greater danger than in the peloton.
When Niewiadoma established a significant lead, Vollering prepared herself for a battle for the silver medal. Her rival? Silvia Persico. The 'duel' ultimately culminated in a two-person sprint, which the home rider, Persico, won. It didn't really feel like a typical sprint, even though it might have appeared that way. Both Silvia and I were exhausted. When we realized we wouldn't catch up to Kasia, we decided to give it our all and race to the finish line to determine who would claim second place. I couldn't outpace Silvia either. She deserves the second spot," Vollering said sympathetically.