Demi Vollering has claimed her second Tour de France Femmes title, emerging victorious after a strategic attack during the final climbs near Nice. She completed the stage 1 minute and 18 seconds ahead of her closest competitor, Kasia Niewiadoma. Vollering’s decisive move occurred on the Col d’Èze, where she broke away from Niewiadoma with about 600 meters left on the ascent, securing her win.
The Dutch cyclist’s triumph was marked by a rivalry with Niewiadoma, the winner of the 2024 Tour. The two were embroiled in a tactical dispute following Saturday’s stage, where Niewiadoma accused Célia Gery, a member of Vollering’s team, of blocking her during a crucial part of the race. This incident fueled ongoing discussions between the competitors leading up to the final stage.
Despite the tension, Niewiadoma recognized Vollering’s impressive performance, noting that her opponent displayed exceptional strength and expressing her desire to compete on fair terms. Vollering, on her part, emphasized that her victory was a testament to her team’s merit and their sporting performance throughout the race.
Niewiadoma’s second-place finish adds to her impressive history of podium appearances in recent editions of the Tour de France Femmes. Meanwhile, the final stage proved challenging for Marlen Reusser. The Swiss rider, who started the day in third place overall, suffered a crash while descending the Col d’Èze, causing her to fall to 14th in the general classification.