Demi Vollering clinched her second Tour de France Femmes title with a powerful attack on the final climbs near Nice, leaving behind Kasia Niewiadoma by 1 minute and 18 seconds. The decisive moment came on the Col d’Èze as the Dutch cyclist surged ahead of Niewiadoma with about 600 meters left in the climb. Despite repeated efforts by Niewiadoma, the 2024 champion, to gain the upper hand during the ascent, Vollering proved unshakeable.
The victory for Vollering unfolded against a backdrop of tension between her and Niewiadoma, stemming from a disagreement over race tactics during the previous stage. Niewiadoma had voiced concerns that Célia Gery, a member of Vollering’s team, had interfered with her during a critical section of that stage. This incident fueled ongoing discussions and criticism as the competition approached its final hurdle.
In spite of the controversy, Niewiadoma expressed admiration for Vollering’s strength, acknowledging that the Dutch rider’s performance was impressive and affirming her desire for a fair competition. Vollering, on her part, emphasized that her team’s victory was a testament to their athletic prowess, aiming to highlight their deserving win based on sporting merit. Niewiadoma’s second-place finish continues her impressive streak of podium appearances in recent editions of the Tour.
The final stage was not without its challenges for other competitors. Marlen Reusser, who started the day in third place overall, experienced a setback when she crashed while descending the Col d’Èze. This unfortunate incident caused the Swiss rider to drop significantly in the general classification, finishing 14th overall.