It has been announced that Lars Boom is stepping down as sports director of SD Works Pro Time and transferring to FDJ Suez. The transfer is effective immediately.

The move has once again sparked speculation that Demi Vollering will follow the former sports director to the French team. Rumors about the Dutch star and FDJ Suez have persisted for several months, but no official statement confirming the transfer has been issued.

Boom, the 2008 cyclocross world champion and stage winner at both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, will retire in 2019 before moving on to become sport director at Liv Racing in 2021. The following year, he moved to SD Walks Pro Time, accompanying Lotte Kopecky.

“I am very happy to join FDJ Suez, a team with a bright future ahead. Steven Delcourt's vision for the team is fascinating and I wanted to be a part of it. What is to come is very exciting and I look forward to bringing out the (best) in the team,” Boom said.

Boom will strengthen the team's Spring Classic team and will work closely with current DS Nicolas Maire and performance directors Lieselo Decroix and Flavien Soen.

“Lars Boom is the off-the-bike newcomer we have been waiting for. His flair and sharp tactical thinking, coupled with his experience in race direction, will allow both the athletes and staff at FDJ-Suez to continue to improve."

Volering's transfer saga began when she left the team in March, surprised by a statement from SD Volks Pro Time. According to that statement, Volering and her management team were presented with a “generous offer,” but when they did not respond by the deadline, the team believed she was leaving.

A month later, it was reported that Vollaring was in negotiations with FDJ Suez about a multi-year contract starting in 2025. Delcour told Cyclingnews that the team would comment on such negotiations, but did not deny the reports.

In 2024, the 27-year-old Dutch rider won the Vuelta España Femenina, Ituria, Vuelta a Burgos, and the Tour de Suisse overall, and finished second overall with two stage wins at the Tour de France Femmes.

However, his team tactics at the Tour de France Femmes were not as good as they seemed when then race leader Voerling crashed with 6 km to go in stage 5, leaving him isolated and ultimately losing the yellow jersey, reigniting rumors of a transfer.