Demi Vollering clinched her second Tour de France Femmes title with a powerful attack on the final climbs near Nice, concluding the race 1 minute and 18 seconds ahead of her closest rival, Kasia Niewiadoma. The decisive moment came as the Dutch cyclist launched a strong move on the Col d’Èze, successfully pulling away from Niewiadoma with approximately 600 meters left on the climb. Despite Niewiadoma’s efforts, including several attacks during the climbs, she was unable to overcome Vollering’s dominance.
The backdrop to Vollering’s victory included a heated dispute between her and Niewiadoma concerning tactics in the race’s penultimate stage. Niewiadoma had accused Célia Gery, a teammate of Vollering’s, of deliberately obstructing her during a critical section, a claim that stirred controversy and fueled discussions ahead of the final race day. Nonetheless, Niewiadoma conceded Vollering’s superior performance, acknowledging that the Dutch rider had been exceptionally strong and expressing her desire to compete on fair terms.
Vollering remarked that her triumph was intended to underscore her team’s rightful claim to victory based on their performance throughout the race. Niewiadoma, despite the contention, maintained her impressive streak of podium finishes at the Tour, securing second place overall. Her consistent performances have made her a formidable competitor in recent editions of the women’s cycling event.
The final stage of the race also brought challenges for Swiss cyclist Marlen Reusser, who experienced a crash while descending the Col d’Èze. Reusser, who had started the day in third place in the overall standings, saw her position plummet to 14th as a result of the unfortunate incident.