Demi Vollering clinched her second Tour de France Femmes title with a commanding performance during the final climbs near Nice, distancing herself from Kasia Niewiadoma by 1 minute and 18 seconds. The pivotal moment came on the Col d’Èze, where the Dutch cyclist launched a decisive attack, leaving Niewiadoma behind with just 600 meters left on the last ascent. Despite repeated attempts by Niewiadoma, the 2024 champion, to take control during the climbs, Vollering proved unshakeable.
The victory was not without its share of controversy, stemming from a tactical disagreement between Vollering and Niewiadoma during the previous Saturday’s stage. Niewiadoma accused Célia Gery, a member of Vollering’s team, of blocking her path during a critical part of the race. This accusation led to ongoing debates and tension between the competitors as they headed into the final stage. Nevertheless, Niewiadoma recognized Vollering’s prowess, acknowledging the Dutch rider’s formidable strength and affirming her desire to compete fairly.
Vollering expressed her hope that her win would underscore her team’s merit and their rightful claim to victory based on their sporting achievements. Despite the friction, Niewiadoma’s second-place finish continued her impressive streak of podium appearances in recent editions of the Tour.
The day proved challenging for Marlen Reusser as well. The Swiss cyclist, who started the stage third overall, suffered a setback after crashing on the descent of the Col d’Èze. This unfortunate incident resulted in her dropping to 14th place in the general classification.