MADRID, Spain (May 5, 2024) — Two stage wins, including the queen stage. The polka dot jersey of the Mountains classification. The Premio Estela Domínguez, after conquering the race’s main climb. And, of course, the Red jersey as overall winner. The list of achievements of Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) in La Vuelta Femenina 24 by Carrefour.es is as impressive as her ride was all over the week in general and in the final climb to Comunidad de Madrid’s Valdesquí winter sports station in particular. The Dutch rider made up for her painful defeat in last year’s edition of the Spanish Grand Tour with a week-long triumph. Riejanne Markus (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) stood on the final podium along with the real and absolute victor of the event. Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike) took the Points classification, while Mireia Benito (AG Insurance-Soudal) was awarded the white jersey as the race’s most aggressive rider.
Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime): “Proud that I could finally show how strong I am”
“The team did a good job all day long. In such a tough mountain stage, the racing is a bit nervous. I didn’t find this last climb super tough. There was headwind again, but it wasn’t super steep. There was a part where we had tailwind and you could pace yourself. There I thought: I have to attack to make sure I have an advantage on that stretch. After all, then the rest will have to chase me again later in the headwind. It’s nice that I was able to increase my lead later on the climb and thus win this stage as well.”
“To end the Vuelta this way is fantastic. As a team we rode strong here all week. With two stage wins, the overall victory and some podium finishes, we can be proud of ourselves as a team. This win does not make up for the Spring campaign, as I would have like to win a Classic and it’s a pity I didn’t do it – but I’m still proud that I could finally show how strong I am and how good I feel. I did really like that there was so much climbing in the course of La Vuelta Femenina 24 by Carrefour.es. I am happy to see that all the Grand Tours are stepping up for the women’s peloton. This overall win is hopefully a good ‘start’ for this summer. I hope to ride some nice stage races first here in Spain and then in the Tour de France Femmes in the coming months.”
Mireia Benito (AG Insurance-Soudal Team): “This prize will help me step up”
“This jersey is a stepping stone, confidence-wise. Last season didn’t finish well, as I suffered several crashes and different issues, and this prize will help me step up. As for my team, I believe we did very well. We have to keep going like this. We shouldn’t ease up, nor relax – quite the opposite! We have to keep working, we have to keep pushing, there are many things left to do! What will I do with this jersey? Well… I have one person in mind to give it to, but I first have to think of a nice writing to dedicate it…”
Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike): “We wanted to make the race as hard as possible”
“We are very happy. Our goals were going for stage wins and for the final GC. The whole team worked really hard, the two stage wins were great, and to have Riejanne Markus standing second on the overall podium is fantastic. It was a good La Vuelta Femenina 24 by Carrefour.es. We started off with a bit of bad luck with Anna Henderson crashing out in the second stage and we missed her this week, but hopefully she will recover well. The rest, we just were going for it every day, and we ended with a very good feeling. Today we wanted to make the race as hard as possible. We know Riejanne has a big engine, so if it’s hard, she’s on her best. My idea was to try to get in the breakaway and survive as long as possible, but I didn’t make it over the first climb. I’m very proud of the girls. They worked really hard and made it also hard on the climb, and then I’m also very proud of how Riejanne finished it off.”
Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek): “I don’t think I made any mistake”
“It was a beautiful week in Spain. I have to say that the course of La Vuelta Femenina 24 by Carrefour.es was a great one, overall. No stage was easy – we always raced full on! I didn’t come here in my optimal form after the tough Spring campaign I had. I was not at my very best level, but I fought hard with my teammates as we did believe until the very end that we could keep the 2nd place. In the end, it wasn’t possible and I finished 3rd. This is sport – sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I don’t think I made any mistake. I just gave my 100% and this what I got. I go home now, and I’m still happy. I am in the purple jersey as leader of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, and that means that I have been very consistent during my Spring. I’m satisfied with my first part of the season. Now it’s time to rest, reset and restart thinking of the second part of the season.”
Riejanne Markus (Team Visma | Lease a Bike): “I couldn’t wish for anything better”
“I’m super happy. I couldn’t wish for anything better. Last year I was 3rd in the GC until the last day and came 4th in the end. This time, I’ve moved up one position, from 3rd to 2nd. Everything went perfect this week. As a team, we got two stage wins and came close to a third one in the TTT – and we were present in the echelons, as well! I’m thankful to all my teammates. I was never confident that I could overtake Elisa [Longo Borghini] today, but I felt really strong and I was hoping I could somehow attack her today. Everything worked out as I was hoping for. I’m very proud of this result. La Vuelta Femenina is always a very hard race, and an all-round one with TTT, echelons and tough mountain stages. To be 2nd here, just behind Demi [Vollering], is really cool. Now I head home for two weeks before going on altitude training camp to prepare for the rest of the season. I won’t do the Giro, but the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.”
