Demi Vollering clinched her second Tour de France Femmes victory with a powerful surge on the final ascents near Nice, outpacing Kasia Niewiadoma by 1 minute and 18 seconds. The decisive moment came on the Col d’Èze, where the Dutch cyclist broke away from Niewiadoma with approximately 600 metres left on the final climb. Despite Niewiadoma’s aggressive attempts to attack during the climbs, she was unable to detach from Vollering, the reigning 2024 champion.
The triumph for Vollering unfolded against a backdrop of tension between the two riders over strategy during Saturday’s stage. Niewiadoma had voiced concerns, alleging that Célia Gery, a member of Vollering’s team, obstructed her during a crucial part of the race. This incident led to ongoing discussions and criticism between the competitors leading up to the concluding stage.
In spite of the contentious atmosphere, Niewiadoma recognized Vollering’s formidable performance, admitting that the Dutch rider exhibited exceptional strength and expressing her desire to compete with integrity. Vollering, on her part, emphasized that her victory underscored her team’s merit in winning the race based on athletic prowess.
Niewiadoma secured the second overall position, maintaining her impressive streak of podium finishes 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 plummet to 14th in the general classification.