As a proud partner of the Tour de France, VELUX understands that peak performance starts with the right environment at home. We spoke with Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering about how natural light and fresh air fuel her training and recovery.
About Demi Vollering
Demi Vollering is a Dutch professional road-racing cyclist celebrated for her climbing ability and tactical racing. She won the 2023 Tour de France Femmes, the biggest title in women's stage racing, along with La Vuelta Femenina in 2024 and 2025. A dominant force in the Classics, in 2023 she became only the second woman in history to win the Ardennes Triple in a single season.
Demi Vollering on balance, recovery, and the power of daylight
Most people aren't competing at the elite level of professional cycling, but everyone can relate to the need for balance, rest, and a space that helps you recharge. As one of the world's top cyclists, Demi Vollering knows that consistency isn't just about pushing harder; it's about building habits, protecting your energy, and creating an environment that supports both body and mind. From daily rituals like yoga and meditation to the calming effect of natural light and fresh air at home, Demi shares how slowing down helps her stay focused, recover fully, and feel ready to perform.
Our partnership with the Tour de France is all about chasing daylight. Before this partnership, what was your association with the VELUX brand? Do you have any personal experience with VELUX products?
Yes, we have five VELUX roof windows, and it’s actually one of the reasons I fell in love with the apartment we bought. The day we stepped inside to have a look at the apartment; I immediately fell in love with the daylight inside thanks to the roof windows.
I really love natural daylight and I love the outdoors, so even when I am inside, I still have a bit of an outdoor feeling because we never really have to switch the lights on during the day. I also really value fresh air in the house, especially as an athlete, and the combination of daylight and fresh air creates a very calm and open feeling at home.
That’s also why this partnership felt very authentic to me from the beginning.
You won the Tour de France Femmes in 2023 and have also won the general classification at La Vuelta Femenina. Beyond crossing the finish line, what is your most cherished memory or feeling connected to the Tour de France?
My favourite memory is the stage win in Rotterdam, the TT (time trial). It was a bit unexpected for me, I was just flying that day.
To win it in my hometown was already special, but to put on the yellow jersey in Rotterdam in front of all my family and friends was something I will never forget and will cherish for the rest of my life. I know that this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
And still, when I see the skyline of Rotterdam, I get all those feelings back.
You're known for your consistency and mental strength, especially in the mountains. Beyond physical training, what do you believe are the key ingredients to staying focused, evolving as an athlete, and performing at the highest level?
A healthy balance. You can only be consistent if you find a healthy balance in everything you do. You need to show up every day, and that's only possible when you avoid extremes. Too much or too little of anything—whether it's training, focus, or rest—isn't sustainable in the long term.
You need to turn tasks into habits, because when motivation drops, habits stay. Once something becomes part of your daily routine, it’s no longer something you might do—you just do it. I do yoga every morning, and I do meditation and journaling every day, because it’s part of my daily routine.
I also think the people around you are very important. Having good people around you who boost your energy and support you makes a big difference over such a long season.
Over the years I’ve learned that consistency doesn’t come from always pushing harder. It also comes from understanding yourself better and protecting your energy.
As a professional cyclist, you spend countless hours outdoors. How does daylight influence your mood and energy, and how important is natural light at home when recovering or preparing for races?
Oh, it’s very important. You always feel the difference in motivation directly when it’s a sunny day or a cold grey day.
Natural light is very important for me, especially because I love the outdoors so much. If I have a rest day, it’s easier to rest when you feel good in your home. If I wouldn’t have daylight in my house, I would want to be outside the whole day, but on a rest day that’s not always the best thing you can do. You need your rest.
Daylight gives me energy, calmness, and motivation, both in training and in recovery.
The Tour de France Femmes is an intense and emotional period. When you finally return home afterwards, what helps you mentally reset and recharge?
After the Tour, I love to stay a bit at a campsite with the campervan and recharge my batteries in nature.
And afterwards, to come home to a place where you really feel at home is very important and nice. It’s where everything restarts and where I can recharge for the next goal.
For me, recharging is really about slowing down, so you can level up again. Being outside in nature, or being inside a home filled with daylight and fresh air, gives me calmness and energy again. That balance is very important for me, both as an athlete and as a person.
Rest, reset, and ready to perform
From the unforgettable moment of wearing the yellow jersey in her hometown of Rotterdam to the daily habits that keep her consistent, Demi Vollering's success is built on balance. For her, peak performance comes from protecting her energy, building routines like yoga and meditation, and creating a home environment filled with natural light and fresh air. Whether recovering after the Tour de France Femmes or preparing for the next challenge, Demi knows that true rest is what fuels her to perform at the highest level.