Demi Vollering could be earning a million euros a year if the rumors are true, but the Dutch champion who previewed the final stage of the 2024 Tour de France Femme did not flaunt her wealth. Instead, she and her partner Jan explored the route, camped in a van with their dog Flo, ate outdoors instead of in a hotel, and slept under the stars.

"Between races, we're often in hotels, so we like to go away in the RV and get back to basics," Vollering told Nos.nl.

The defending Tour de France Femme champion's trip included a climb to L'Alpe d'Huez. L'Alpe d'Huez is the final climb of the final stage of this year's race, and the first woman can put her name on the board listing the Tour de France stage winners.

She also tackled the 160 km stage 6 from Remiremont to Morteau, the 167 km stage 7 from Champagnol to Le Grand-Bornand, and the 150 km final stage to L'Alpe d'Huez.

The last two stages were "like nothing I have ever experienced before. [I've never had so many altimeters and a very long stage. They are all over 150 km, so they will be really tough stages.

After summiting the Alpe d'Huez, Vollering recalled the scene of people cheering along the roadside.

"It was a steeper climb than I expected. You see how it climbs from the first steepness and you think, maybe this is a good place to launch an attack, maybe I want to get away already here, maybe I should still be in the wheels here, and so on. So I'm always thinking about the perfect scenario."

This year's Tour de France will be special for Vollering, not only because he starts as the defending champion, but also because the race begins in the Netherlands.

"It's very special because it starts in Rotterdam, where I was born."

Vollering has adjusted her season around racing in August, immediately after the Olympics. She has already been selected to represent the Netherlands in Paris and will work under sprinter Lorena Wiebes, along with Ellen van Dijk and Marianne Foss.

"The road course may not completely suit me. It's pretty flat and I enjoy working for the team," she said. The time trial may be her best chance for a medal.

Her spring campaign was not as successful as 2023, as she did not win until the Vuelta Femenina in May. She then won the Ituria women's and Vuelta a Burgos Femenina overall, and will start Saturday with the Tour de Suisse women.

"We knew it would be impossible to run a spring like last year," said the team's president, Jorge Pérez, "but we knew we had to do something."[25 A breakdown with SD Walkes over contract negotiations ensured that she will join a new team next year, but she did not confirm the widely circulated €1 million offer rumors this spring.

"It's nice to see so much speculation. It shows how much attention women's cycling is getting. For me, it's important that the race is seen and that's how it grows the most."

She is committed to working for SD Worx-Protime until the end of the season.

"I want to focus on my goals for the season. The team wants to win races with me, so that's what's important.