Since claiming the European Championships last autumn, FDJ United-Suez’s Demi Vollering has swapped her usual team colours for the blue bands and stars of continental champion. To match, her Specialized Tarmac SL8 has received a suitable Euro makeover, with enough blue and yellow to make even Ursula von der Leyen smile.
Vollering has been in fine form since pulling on the European colours, having picked up the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and Omloop Nieuwsblad so far this year. However, the European Champion wasn’t able to pick up a third Strade Bianche title due to a calamitous manoeuvre that saw the Dutchwoman’s group led off-course by a motorbike. Regardless, her teammate Elise Chabbey, a former Olympic kayaker, took the win for her FDJ United-Suez team and German Champion Franzi Koch took third.
Ahead of Strade Bianche, photographer Xavier Pereyron managed to catch a glimpse of Vollering’s Europop Specialized Tarmac SL8. It’s douze points from us.
Demi Vollering’s Specialized Tarmac SL8
The Tarmac SL8 was the most successful bike on the Women’s WorldTour last year, having been used by AG Insurance-Soudal, SD Worx-Protime and FDJ United-Suez.
Demi Vollering handwrote her KM markers ahead of Strade Bianche on Saturday on old-school cotton rather than these new fancy stickers.
The European champion rode on a pair of Specialized’s new Cotton TLR tyres in a 32mm width. The Cotton TLR tyres had been spotted at last year’s Tour de France, but they were formally released the week of Strade Bianche.
The Tarmac SL8 was released during the summer of 2023. Three years down the line, rumours suggest the Tarmac will be getting an overhaul soon.
The two-time Strade champion rode a 12-speed Dura-Ace groupset with a 2x 54-40T crankset.
The European colours return on the seat tube.
The Roval Rapide CLX III wheelset was released at last year’s Tour de France. The wheels offer a 51mm rim on the front and a 48mm rim on the rear. If you want to read more, our full review was published last week.
And finally, Demi’s dog, Flo, who would never lead anyone down the wrong path. Never.