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Capturing victory at all the Ardennes Classics – Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège – in one season is a rare feat that has only been accomplished by four riders in history: Davide Rebellin in 2004, Philippe Gilbert in 2011, Anna van der Breggen in 2017 and now Demi Vollering, who added her name to the prestigious club on Sunday.
“[Liège-Bastogne-Liège] was the most difficult of the three. Especially because I put a lot of pressure on myself to achieve this unique series,” Vollering said after out-sprinting Elisa Longo Borghini to take the victory in Liège.
Vollering has spoken several times during the stretch of Ardennes Classics about how much her nerves have taken a toll on her, at times feeling nauseous and barely able to eat during the races, partly due to the pressure to perform and the priority placed on this block of the season.
She has also attributed much of her success this week to the help of her powerful team SD Worx, and her teammates, who have kept her calm and protected during each of the three races.
“In Liege, I definitely had the feeling that everyone wanted to gear the race to me. It’s a situation I sometimes had problems with last year, but which I have made steps in,” she said.
“Of course, it does help to have this team behind me. All the girls rode super strong and also expressed full confidence in me. Then you want to get the win for them as well.”
Vollering began her Ardennes Classic journey in promising form after winning Strade Bianche, Dwars door Vlaanderen, and she finished with a pair of second places at the Tour of Flanders and Brabantse Pijl.
Having been seventh in 2019 and runner-up in 2021 and 2022, she finally added Amstel Gold Race to her list of victories last Sunday, where she made her winning attack on the decisive Cauberg and soloed to the win in Berg en Terblijt, the only round of the series held in her home country, the Netherlands.
Vollering’s versatility as a rider was on display at Flèche Wallonne, where she surged over the Côte de Cherave and then proved the strongest rider on the Mur de Huy, this time taking the victory at the race where she finished third in both 2020 and 2022.
No stranger to Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Vollering won the race in 2021 after a remarkable lead out from now-retired Anna van der Breggen. She knew exactly how difficult the race would be, particularly the final ascents of the Côte de la Redoute, Côte des Forges and Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons.
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