Vollering capped an incredible Giro with a final-day raid that netted her the maglia rosa. šø SWpix
Hi Subscribers,
Itās contract season, and over the last week weāve seen a spate of renewals and extensions in both the menās and womenās peloton.
Like last year, weāre going to be analysing and grading all the renewals and hereās our first batch, featuring Demi Vollering, Andreas Leknessund, Romain GrĆ©goire, Einer Rubio, and Nils Politt.
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Demi Vollering š³š±
Age: 29
Team: FDJ United – SUEZ
Contract duration: Two years
Grade: A+
Weāll have a far more extensive feature on Volleringās new contract and how it came about, either later this week or at the start of next week. The whole Lidl-Trek saga last week completely knocked the content plan off track, and we had to focus all our attention on that story, but Vollering needs to be included in this round-up.
Two years is the length of the deal, and while weāve certainly seen longer contracts in modern cycling, the reason for the duration is that team boss Stephen Delcourt has his sponsors lined up for the next two years and isnāt sending out deals beyond that date. That said, this is Volleringās team, and her second home, and itās highly likely that sheāll race for FDJ United until the day she hangs up her wheels, and thereās another strong chance that she remains within the set-up after that.
In truth, there was very little chance of a move to another team and back in the spring Delcourt told us that he was going to propose a āspecial contractā for his star rider. In fact, the negotiations began around 12 months ago, when the team boss sat down with Vollering and a blank piece of paper to discuss a new deal. There never seemed to be any rush or pressure, and over the next few months, the pair would bounce ideas off each other during races, camps, and early-morning runs. The final deal was signed around the Tour of Flanders this year, with very little time spent talking to other teams regarding Volleringās representatives. Yes, she was close to joining Lidl-Trek a couple of years ago, and there was a slight rumour of another bid this time around, but her first priority was to stay with her current team.
Over the last few weeks, and Iām sure over the weeks to come, weāll hear more about the size of contracts within the womenās peloton, especially with Paula Blasi set to make over a million a year once she decides between Lidl-Trek and her existing team, but Volleringās contract(s) remains unique in several aspects, firstly because of the financials – she is the best paid female rider in the peloton right now – but also the other aspects such as side sponsorship with Nike and Specialized and her role with the FDJ United – SUEZ. Speaking to Delcourt, she is clearly more than an athlete.
On a purely sporting front, keeping Vollering is huge for the team. Her season this year has been nothing short of remarkable, and her final day raid at the Giro dāItalia was one of the most impressive feats weāve seen from any rider in years. It was calculating, clinical and crushing in equal measure, and she is just the second female rider to win all three Grand Tours.
Weāre watching history being made in real time this season, but whatās stood out is that she leads by example at FDJ United – SUEZ. Vollering has riders with star potential devoted to her cause, and Delcourt has built the very definition of a successful team. Vollering could probably have taken a bigger payday elsewhere, but the fact that sheās signed with this team and has extended for another two years is a testament to how well this collaboration is panning out.
Nils Politt š©šŖ
Age: 32
Team: UAE Team Emirates-XRG
Contract duration: Three years
Grade: B