Visma Lease-a Bike and FDJ-SUEZ buried the hatchet on Wednesday prior to the fifth stage of the Tour de France Femmes. Friction had arisen between the two cycling teams after a crash involving FDJ leader Demi Vollering last Monday.
Vollering suffered some bruises and abrasions from the crash in the peloton. Team boss Stephen Delcourt was upset and said that colleagues “lack respect” and “play with lives”.
Visma team leader Jos van Emden found Delcourt’s texts “ridiculous” and lashed out at Vollering. “Nothing happens that can’t happen. He’s just influenced by Demi. By Demi’s affected behavior.”
On Wednesday, Delcourt, Van Emden and head coach Jacco Verhaeren of Visma had a conversation about the state of affairs. The conversation lasted about twenty minutes. Afterwards, Verhaeren didn’t want to say much about it.
“It was a good conversation,” he told NU.nl, among others. “About respect and safety in the peloton. Everyone will be back on their bikes soon and we will see a great race. We agree to disagree.”
Delcourt: ‘We respect each other’
Delcourt called it a “constructive conversation”. “We have agreed that the safety of the riders is the most important thing,” he told NU.nl. “We have found each other’s equal in that.”
The team boss of FDJ understands that his texts were not diplomatic and could cause friction. “I reacted as an indignant rider who had just finished. I also understand that the Dutch can react when criticism is expressed.”
Delcourt acknowledged that he was not happy with Van Emden’s reaction. “I am not happy with how he spoke about me and my rider (Vollering, ed.). You can say anything about me, because I can leave that behind me.”
Delcourt emphasized again that the tension between him and Visma has dissipated. “The most important thing is that we have had a good conversation and that we are now focusing on cycling again. We respect each other and each other’s work.”