Vollering Signs Record Deal With FDJ-SUEZ After Visma Departure
Demi Vollering has signed a groundbreaking contract with French WorldTour outfit FDJ-SUEZ, reportedly worth €1.2 million per year — a figure that shatters the record for female cyclist earnings and establishes Vollering as the highest-paid woman in cycling history by a significant margin. The multi-year deal, announced officially at a press conference in Paris, represents a watershed moment for women's professional cycling and signals unprecedented investment in female talent at the UCI's top level. Her previous salary at Visma was estimated at €450,000 annually, meaning her new deal nearly triples her compensation.
Vollering's departure from Team Visma-Lease a Bike after six seasons sent shockwaves through the sport in early March. The Dutch climber had been the spine of Visma's women's Grand Tour programme, winning the Giro d'Italia in both 2023 and 2024, and finishing runner-up at the Tour de France last summer with a performance that suggested she could break through for ultimate Grand Tour dominance. Her transfer to FDJ-SUEZ represents a seismic shift in the women's peloton, with the French team now boasting arguably the planet's most formidable Grand Tour roster outside of Visma itself. The team has simultaneously signed young talent Juliette Labous, who finished third at last year's Tour.
"This is a historic moment for women's cycling," said FDJ-SUEZ team director Frédéric Garcia at the unveiling. "Demi's record of Grand Tour victories and consistency at the highest level is unmatched. We've invested significantly in our women's programme, and Demi is the centrepiece of that investment. She deserves to be compensated at the level of top male riders, and we're proud to be the team making that statement." The investment reflects broader market forces: women's cycling viewership has grown 89% in five years, sponsorship interest has tripled, and television rights have increased substantially.
The deal carries significant implications beyond Vollering's individual career. At €1.2M annually, she now earns at levels comparable to successful continental-team level men's riders, a threshold that only a handful of women have ever approached. The contract is reportedly guaranteed for three years, with performance bonuses attached for Grand Tour victories. Cycling observers suggest this move may catalyse a broader revaluation of women's cycling talent across the industry, as sponsors and teams scramble to compete for top female talent. For Vollering, the stakes are equally high: she must deliver the Grand Tour victories and consistency that justify one of cycling's most audacious wage commitments, with immediate expectations set for Giro d'Italia victory in May.