Demi Vollering breaks down in tears as she dedicates La Vuelta Femenina stage win to people struggling with mental health issues
Published 08/05/2025 at 17:40 GMT+1
Demi Vollering dedicated her stage five victory at La Vuelta Femenina to people struggling with their mental health. Upon claiming victory, the Dutch FDJ-Suez rider gave a tearful interview in which she insisted that too many young people were battling mental health issues. Vollering is 45 seconds ahead of Anna van der Breggen in La Vuelta's general classification with just two stages remaining.
Tearful Vollering dedicates win to 'all the people who have a hard time mentally'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) dedicated her stage five victory at La Vuelta Femenina to people struggling with their mental health.
On Thursday, the reigning Vuelta champion claimed victory ahead of Marlen Reusser (Movistar) and Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), and in turn, took an overall lead in La Vuelta Femenina standings.
Speaking in the wake of her victory, a tearful Vollering admitted that someone "close" had been struggling with their mental health, and the Dutch rider dedicated her win to those who are battling such issues.
"I feel good," Vollering said. "I’m really happy to have won this stage. I’m very proud of what we did as a team.
"The last few days have been more difficult. Someone close to me is going through a really hard time and I see that around me, too many young people are struggling.
"So today I did everything I could, as I know that mentally I am very strong. Because of my mentality, I can win beautiful races.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/05/08/image-57e086f7-8255-4d81-bb7f-d647e1d7c487-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'Super strong' Vollering climbs to Stage 5 win to take Vuelta lead
Video credit: TNT Sports
"But for some people, their mentality, their brain is a bit too strong in the wrong direction, with their mental health.
"It’s still such an unknown problem in this world. So today my win was a sacrifice for all the people that are [struggling] mentally."
Vollering is 45 seconds ahead of Van der Breggen in the general classification with just two stages remaining.
- VOTE: Take on The Breakaway experts in our Giro d’Italia predictor
- Ferrand-Prevot withdraws from La Vuelta due to 'not feeling fit enough'
- Giro d'Italia 2025: Roglic, Ayuso and other favourites for the pink jersey
Speaking to TNT Sports, pundit Dani Rowe said: "[Vollering] is amazing, I'm finding it hard to put into words how important this woman is for our sport.
"There are so many people struggling.
"She is strong mentally and she can use that to use these hardest races in the world, but she knows what matters more and that is the people she is close to, so chapeau Demi Vollering."
Watch La Vuelta Femenina live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement