Demi Vollering clinched her second Tour de France Femmes title with a decisive performance on the final climbs near Nice, finishing 1 minute and 18 seconds ahead of her closest rival, Kasia Niewiadoma. The key moment unfolded on the Col d’Èze, where Vollering launched a critical attack, pulling away from Niewiadoma with just 600 meters left on the final ascent. Despite Niewiadoma’s repeated attempts to overtake the Dutch cyclist, she was unable to overcome Vollering’s dominant form.
The victory came amidst some controversy surrounding the competition between Vollering and Niewiadoma. On Saturday’s stage, Niewiadoma accused Célia Gery, a member of Vollering’s team, of obstructing her during a crucial part of the race. This accusation led to ongoing discussions and some tension between the competitors ahead of the final stage.
Despite these disputes, Niewiadoma acknowledged the strength of Vollering’s performance. She praised the Dutch rider’s capabilities and expressed her desire to compete fairly. Vollering, for her part, emphasized that her win was a testament to her team’s sporting prowess. With this victory, Vollering’s team demonstrated their right to the title, based not only on strategy but on undeniable athletic performance.
Niewiadoma, who was the 2024 champion, secured second place overall, continuing her impressive streak of podium finishes in recent editions of the Tour. Meanwhile, Marlen Reusser faced a setback during the final stage. The Swiss rider, who was third overall at the start of the day, experienced a crash while descending the Col d’Èze, which resulted in her dropping to 14th place in the general classification.