Demi Vollering warns rivals ahead of World Championships

Demi Vollering is gearing up for a shot at the rainbow jersey at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, but the Dutch star admits she has no idea what to expect. The 2026 championships run from 20 September to 27 September, with the elite women's road race on Saturday 26 September.

Vollering has not raced for a while, making her return an exciting unknown. She told NOS that her training has gone well, but she is unsure if she still has the race fitness needed to win. "I hope to be able to win here, but we’ll have to wait and see," she said. The 39.2 kilometer time trial course in Montreal is technical and long, a format she says is rare. Vollering believes an aggressive, perfect ride could deliver a standout performance, but any mistake will be costly. She warned that even the favorite, Marlen Reusser, could be surprised by the demanding circuit.

The Dutch rider recently used her platform to join a growing backlash against a nude sports advert featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. On Instagram, Vollering wrote that the advert had started a necessary debate. "For a long time, women have fought to be seen for what they can do, not for how they look," she stated. Vollering argued that in sport, the focus should be on strength and achievement, not appearance. "It’s not: how do I look? But: what can I do? How strong can I become?" she said. She also made a clear point about femininity and strength, stating, "Being strong doesn’t make you any less feminine."

The championships feature a week of racing across multiple categories. The elite women's road race covers 180.4km, starting with a long loop from Brossard before completing eight laps of a central Montreal circuit. The elite men's race is 273.4km long. All races finish at the same line in Parc Jeanne-Mance. The event schedule is packed, culminating with the men's road race on Sunday 27 September.

• Demi Vollering is a two-time Tour de France Femmes winner and a dominant force in women's cycling.
• The 2026 UCI Road World Championships are in Montreal, Canada, from 20 to 27 September.
• Vollering criticized an advert for reducing female athletes to their appearance, advocating for a focus on performance.
• The technical 39.2km time trial course could produce major surprises, with Marlen Reusser the marked favorite.

Vollering's comments on the advert reflect her status as a top athlete who has repeatedly delivered in major races like the Giro d'Italia Women and the Ardennes Classics. Her voice adds weight to a conversation many in women's sport are tired of having. As the world championships begin, all eyes will be on Montreal to see if her training pays off and if she can add a world title to her impressive palmares.