Demi Vollering clinched her second Tour de France Femmes title with a commanding performance on the final climbs near Nice, pulling ahead of Kasia Niewiadoma by 1 minute and 18 seconds. The Dutch cyclist made a pivotal move on the Col d’Èze, surging past Niewiadoma with just 600 meters left on the last ascent. Despite her efforts, Niewiadoma, who won the championship in 2024, was unable to counter Vollering’s decisive attack.
The victory came amid a backdrop of controversy between the two competitors stemming from the previous day’s stage. Niewiadoma accused Célia Gery, a member of Vollering’s team, of blocking her during a crucial part of the race. This incident led to ongoing discussions and criticism as the race progressed toward its conclusion. Despite these tensions, Niewiadoma conceded to Vollering’s superior display, acknowledging the Dutch rider’s strength and affirming her desire to compete with integrity.
Vollering expressed her hope that her triumph would underscore her team’s merit based on athletic performance rather than external factors. Niewiadoma’s second-place finish adds to her impressive streak of podium appearances in recent Tour editions, highlighting her consistent prowess in the competition.
The final stage also brought challenges for Marlen Reusser, who suffered a crash while descending the Col d’Èze. Starting the day in third place overall, the Swiss rider’s mishap resulted in a significant drop to 14th in the general classification, marking a disappointing end to her campaign.
