Vollering Sharpens Her Revenge Plan For A New Duel With Ferrand-Prévot

Demi Vollering will arrive at the Tour de France Femmes with a clear mission: recover the yellow jersey she won in 2023. After finishing second in the past two editions, the Dutch rider returns as the leader of a powerful FDJ United-SUEZ squad and with the confidence provided by an outstanding first half of the 2026 season.

The French team has spent months refining its preparation after Pauline Ferrand-Prévot dominated the decisive mountain stages in 2025 and won the race by 3:42. FDJ accepts that the defending champion could return at the same level or even stronger, but its response has been to concentrate on its own performance rather than build a plan around assumptions about Visma-Lease a Bike.

Vollering has reasons for optimism. She has already won major races this season, including the Giro d’Italia Women, and arrives with a team designed for every type of terrain. Juliette Berthet and Évita Muzic will provide high-level climbing support, while Franziska Koch, Amber Kraak and Marie Le Net add strength for positioning and control on faster stages.

French champion Célia Gery completes the seven-rider selection and will make her Tour debut after confirming her potential during the Giro. FDJ therefore combines experience, climbing depth and riders capable of protecting Vollering on the flat, an important balance on a route where danger appears long before Mont Ventoux.

Ferrand-Prévot remains the main reference after her commanding victory last year, but the duel will not necessarily be limited to two riders. Marlen Reusser, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney and other contenders can exploit the 21-kilometre time trial, the succession of hilly stages and a final weekend packed with climbing.

The most anticipated confrontation should come on stage 7, with the summit finish on Mont Ventoux. Yet the short and explosive final stage around Nice means that neither Vollering nor Ferrand-Prévot can afford to focus on a single day. FDJ begins the Tour with only one principal objective, but recovering yellow will require nine stages without a major weakness.