The SD Worx bingo card is almost full. Thanks to Vollering, another box was crossed in Dwars Door Vlaanderen. For example, spoils are well distributed within SD Worx and Kopecky’s biggest competition for the Tour of Flanders seems to come from her own team.
Many pages have already been published about the dominance of Jumbo-Visma in the spring. But there seems to be a double walking around in the women’s peloton. When Van Baarle won for Jumbo-Visma in the Omloop, Kopecky won for SD Worx. When Laporte was allowed to triumph in Gent-Wevelgem, it was Reusser’s turn a few hours later. And so also in Dwars Door Vlaanderen. After Laporte’s win, it was bingo for Vollering.
Three classics, each with three new winners. Incidentally, Wiebes also got her share. SD Worx clearly has several women to end it with. The Tour of Flanders will be no different. In addition to Vollering, Marlen Reusser and, of course, Lotte Kopecky, who is missing today, can also claim the lead. Kopecky’s biggest competitor appears to be on her own team. “No, that’s absolutely not true,” Vollering contradicts. “The fact that I win today only benefits Lotte. We were able to make the most of our combined strength. The same goes for Sunday. In our team it doesn’t matter who wins, as long as one of us wins. That is our team spirit and everyone supports it.”
However, this team spirit was missing during the Strade Bianche. As Vollering and Kopecky crossed the finish line together, it didn’t seem like each was giving the other everything. This incident has since been covered with the cloak of love. “We do not have bad against each other or internal competition. During our spring prep, we were backpacking with the entire team in California. You are dependent on each other and we have developed a strong bond with each other. If you do something for the team, you are almost certain that you will get it back.”
At Dwars Door Vlaanderen it was Vollering’s turn again. “We rode so dominantly again,” says Vollering, who still doubted whether she was doing well on the first climbs. “Both Marlen Reusser and I were allowed to try it out during the game. I got on the last climb and that turned out to be the right choice.”
A new example of total dominance from the spring women’s team. “Where we were on par with other teams last year, we’re really above them now. It will be difficult for the others to win something,” laughs Vollering.
Everything looks rosy for the Tour of Flanders. Vollering doesn’t hide their ambition for Flanders Most Beautiful and is also aware that they are the team that has to carry the competition. “The winning mood sticks around. Winning here means a lot for the Tour of Flanders. We want to use our dominance as well as possible there as well and we will assume our responsibility to make the pitch as tough as possible. We’ve been doing this all spring.”
Source : HLN