SD Worx-Protime refused to touch upon the reported information of Demi Vollering leaving the staff after Dwars door Vlaanderen however staff boss Danny Stam did say the riders had been “not likely targeted” as they uncharacteristically missed out on a podium spot.
The drama began for the dominant ladies’s staff when Stam reportedly broke the information on Vollering’s departure after 2024 on the race’s begin in Waregem, stating funds considerations and Lotte Kopecky’s current extension as causes to GCN.
The saga continued when the staff responded on social media stating that they “made Demi Vollering a beneficiant supply” with a deadline, however assumed she could be departing the staff having not replied in time.
However as soon as the 114 kilometres of racing had been up and so they had been defeated by Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) and outnumbered by Lidl-Trek, “no remark” was the reply given to something in regards to the reigning Tour de France Femmes champion.
“You shouldn’t ask it,” Stam informed Cyclingnews when pressed to make clear his earlier feedback on Vollering, solely prepared to reply “sporting” questions from the press.
Nevertheless, it had additionally been a tough sporting day for the tremendous staff with Kopecky ending fourth, an enormous disappointment by her requirements particularly with the Tour of Flanders approaching Sunday.
The World Champion missed strikes, together with the profitable one, and was compelled into bridging on her personal to the main group earlier within the day after the likes of Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) lit up the racing alongside Vos and eventual runner-up Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek).
The newest race content material, interviews, options, opinions and knowledgeable shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
It wasn’t the usually brutal show from Kopecky that we now have come to anticipate within the cobbled Classics.
“She [Kopecky] mentioned additionally by herself that “I made some errors and that I used to be not fully targeted’ and due to that she was behind,” Stam mentioned conscious {that a} repeat could be unacceptable at De Ronde.
“They’re errors which might occur in this sort of race however can not occur in Flanders.”
An understandably disgruntled Kopecky flew by way of the blended zone post-race, not stopping to reply any questions on her personal race or the Vollering state of affairs. However because the Champion she is, did emerge later from the Bus to signal autographs and take footage with younger followers.
Not one of the six riders commented on their teammate’s state of affairs and Vollering’s Dutch nationwide champion’s jersey was absent from those who rolled previous the media en path to the buses.
Vollering, who was on the centre of the day’s consideration and the defending champion coming into at this time, had a disappointing return to the Belgian cobbles, summed up by her premature mechanical with 25km to go.
A gradual again wheel change from Shimano impartial service noticed her hopes finish however even previous to this, she wasn’t precisely on the world-beating kind that noticed her dominate the Tour de France Femmes final 12 months, leaving Kopecky on her personal to struggle a irritating battle up entrance.
“She [Vollering] was additionally not likely targeted. She missed each break,” Stam admitted after Vollering was the final member of the staff to reach again on the bus some 4:21 down on Vos.
“It was not the very best race. I feel it is only a race the place we made some errors and we should be sharper for the following.”
He was finally unfazed by the staff’s efficiency with Kopecky nonetheless taking fourth after doing a major quantity of labor on her personal and lacking the race-winning transfer began by Van Anrooij 12km from the road.
“We modified three women already and on an appointment, we’re at all times there. This isn’t the Ronde van Vlaanderen, this isn’t Gent-Wevelgem,” Stam mentioned.
“I feel if we modify three spring women for the ladies that raced at this time, we now have a very totally different squad within the entrance. So I am not so fearful.” I did really feel sharp at this time and I reacted on the suitable moments, just one time not,” Kopecky later mentioned through the staff. “I haven’t got any doubts. I am trying ahead to de Ronde van Vlaanderen.”
Niamh Fisher-Black, Femke Herritse and Mischa Bredewold had been the riders who got here in at this time in alternative for Gent-Wevelgem winner Lorena Wiebes, Marlen Reusser and Christine Majerus. And Stam was very assured in regards to the sprinter’s possibilities for Sunday after exhibiting her improved versatility final Sunday.
“She [Wiebes] can be good for positive and I am not doubting on the form of the ladies,” he mentioned. “Right this moment we had been somewhat bit not fully targeted however I feel we needn’t fear. We all know the situation is nice, they confirmed that already.”
Whereas Vollering’s future continues to be unknown, what’s sure is that SD Worx-Protime, even with their three choices for victory at Flanders, actually look probably the most weak they’ve for some time.
Supply hyperlink
