Demi Vollering's arrival at FDJ United-SUEZ in 2025 may have curtailed the opportunity for her one-time rival Juliette Berthet to purse the yellow jersey for herself but, as she walks into her fifth edition of the Tour de France Femmes as a key domestique, the French rider has characterised the dynamic as one that has lifted her to new heights rather than held her back.
In fact, even after an early crash and riding in a support of an injured Vollering, Berthet (née Labous) managed to finish seventh overall in 2025 and was second on stage 6 to Ambert. And while Labous admits she was concerned when she first heard Vollering was joining the team, there was one phrase uttered by team manager Stephen Delcourt that made all the difference: "It's better to have her with us than against us."
