Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ) avoided serious injury after crashing during a team training ride in Spain on December 18, sustaining cuts to her chin and hand but escaping without fractures or long-term damage.
The Dutch rider shared news of the incident in a set of Instagram stories, documenting visible abrasions with characteristic self-deprecation. "I tried to kiss the tarmac... can tell you, don't try..." Vollering wrote, confirming that while the day "didn't finish so well," she had dodged a significant setback during the critical pre-season preparation period.
The crash occurred on a descent near Benidorm during an afternoon training session. The Costa Blanca region, a popular winter destination for professional cycling teams due to its mild weather and varied terrain, has seen the FDJ-SUEZ squad fine-tuning performance ahead of the 2026 campaign.
No official medical statement was issued by FDJ-SUEZ, suggesting the injuries required no treatment beyond basic first aid.
The 29-year-old also offered pointed commentary about the response from passing motorists. "Thanks to the three cars who passed me and didn't even ask if I was okay," she wrote. "It gives me a lot of confidence in humanity… #not." She credited a single cyclist who stopped, along with team staff who arrived quickly, for providing appropriate assistance.
Source: Instagram
The incident marks a brief scare during Vollering's pre-season training block. Recent training data showed Vollering logging a 109km loop with nearly 2,000m of climbing in snowy gravel conditions, suggesting Vollering is taking no shortcuts in her preparations for the 2026 season.
