Demi Vollering is the new world champion: at the end of a thrilling finale, the Dutch rider defeated Poland's Kasia Niewiadoma and Italy's Elisa Longo Borghini, claiming the rainbow jersey after an extraordinary season, further embellished by victories at the Giro d'Italia Women and the Tour de France Femmes.

She was listed among the great favorites on the eve of the race, but turning predictions into a world title required courage, clarity, and a team willing to sacrifice themselves for their leader. Vollering crossed the finish line visibly moved, welcomed by her boyfriend and teammates, who delivered a flawless performance throughout the day.

«I think I... still can't believe it. I truly believe I've carried this dream in my heart for a reason», she said shortly after crossing the line.

Then came her thanks to the team: «I worked hard for this goal. It takes courage to truly believe with all your heart and to gather around you such a strong group of girls, ready to sacrifice themselves for you. I want to thank them sincerely, because maybe they could have had an opportunity themselves and instead they chose to put everything on me. That's asking a lot, but I'm so proud of the entire team».

Her teammates controlled the race, keeping Vollering in the best possible condition until the decisive moment: «They took control of the race, led it from the front, and organized a perfect lead-out for the sprint. I simply couldn't fail right at the end».

The victory came after an action decided by mere seconds. «Yes, there were moments when I thought I'd attacked too early. I thought about it many times and believed I'd jumped the gun. The gap remained minimal until the very end and I didn't dare look back, because I had the feeling they were already almost within sight. The advantage fluctuated between 20, 22, and 15 seconds».

Then came the moment of fear: «At one point they got closer and I thought: "Damn, it's not over yet". I had to believe until the very end, with every fiber of my body. I dared, I pushed hard, and I never gave up until the finish line».

Finally, the decisive sprint against Niewiadoma: «And that sprint... what a battle against Kasia! I had no intention of letting victory slip away. I told myself: "No, it's mine now"».

Demi Vollering concluded with the pride of someone who knows they took part in a race destined to remain in the memory of this sport: «I believe it was a fantastic race to watch. I'm truly proud to have been part of it and I can't wait to watch it again».