'I have mixed feelings' - Late-race gamble falls short for Demi Vollering at Dwars door Vlaanderen

Demi Vollering of SD Worx-Protime saw her late-race gamble at Dwars door Vlaanderen fall short, finishing 12th after an aggressive move on the Nokereberg. The reigning Tour de France Femmes champion attacked with 10km to go, creating a gap, but was ultimately reeled in by the chasing peloton, led by eventual winner Marianne Vos. Vollering expressed "mixed feelings" post-race, acknowledging the hindsight of strategic choices.

This outcome, while not a disaster, marks a slight deviation from Vollering's usual dominant spring form, particularly as she heads into the Tour of Flanders, a race she won last year. Her aggressive tactic, though unsuccessful, demonstrates her intent to dictate races rather than react. However, the strength of the chasing group, particularly the tactical acumen of teams like Visma | Lease a Bike and Lidl-Trek, highlighted the difficulty of soloing clear in such a high-calibre field, even for a rider of Vollering's calibre.

Ultimately, Vollering's "mixed feelings" are likely shared by her rivals, who will have noted that even a slight miscalculation can be enough to thwart the best-laid plans. Flanders awaits, where such lessons are often sharply reinforced.