Demi Vollering clinched her second consecutive victory at the Tour de France Femmes, showcasing her prowess with a decisive attack on the challenging final climbs near Nice. She completed the race 1 minute and 18 seconds ahead of rival Kasia Niewiadoma. The Dutch cyclist made her move on the Col d’Èze, pulling away from Niewiadoma with approximately 600 meters left on the final ascent. Despite Niewiadoma’s relentless attempts to take the lead, the 2024 champion was unable to distance herself from Vollering.
The competition between Vollering and Niewiadoma was intensified by a tactical dispute during Saturday’s stage. Niewiadoma accused Célia Gery, part of Vollering’s team, of blocking her during a critical segment of the race, an incident that stirred criticism and fueled discussions as the final stage approached. Nevertheless, Niewiadoma recognized Vollering’s exceptional performance, acknowledging the Dutch rider’s strength and expressing her desire for fair competition throughout the race.
Vollering expressed her hope that her triumph would underscore her team’s rightful claim to victory, based on their athletic performance. Despite the controversy, Niewiadoma’s second-place finish reinforced her impressive record of podium appearances in recent editions of the Tour de France Femmes.
The final stage also posed challenges for Marlen Reusser. The Swiss rider, who started the day in third place overall, suffered a crash while descending the Col d’Èze. This unfortunate incident resulted in her dropping to 14th in the general classification, marking a significant shift in her standing after a promising start.