Demi Vollering defeats Anna van der Breggen with mind games at Giro d'Italia Women

Demi Vollering claimed victory in the Giro d'Italia Women after a tactical showdown with former teammate and coach Anna van der Breggen. In the final stage, Vollering, who was second overall, stayed on Van der Breggen's wheel and waited for an opening, later explaining that she told her rival she would be satisfied with second or third place as a strategic bluff.

Vollering said she deliberately used facial expressions and knowledge of the former SD Worx‑Protime team’s radio communications to create the impression of physical limits, hoping to unsettle Van der Breggen. She discussed these psychological tactics on Jan Frodeno’s "Going Mental" podcast, describing the ploy as “either the ultimate bluff or pure self‑confidence.” The approach, she noted, relied on the deep familiarity the two riders have from years of training together.