Demi Vollering clinched her second Tour de France Femmes title with a commanding attack on the final climbs near Nice, overtaking Kasia Niewiadoma by 1 minute and 18 seconds. The Dutch cyclist made her decisive move on the Col d’Èze, breaking away from Niewiadoma with about 600 meters left on the last ascent. Despite Niewiadoma’s status as the 2024 champion and her persistent attempts to take the lead during the climbs, she was unable to outpace Vollering.
The victory for Vollering unfolded amid a dispute regarding tactics used in Saturday’s stage. Niewiadoma had accused Célia Gery, a member of Vollering’s team, of blocking her during a critical portion of the race. This incident led to criticism and ongoing discussions between the competitors leading up to the final stage. Regardless of the controversy, Niewiadoma acknowledged Vollering’s strength and expressed her desire for a fair competition.
Vollering emphasized that she wanted her victory to highlight her team’s merit in winning the race based on sporting performance. Niewiadoma secured second place overall, continuing her impressive record of podium finishes in the recent editions of the Tour de France Femmes.
The concluding stage was challenging for Marlen Reusser, who suffered a crash while descending the Col d’Èze. Starting the day in third place overall, the Swiss rider’s fall led to a drop to 14th in the general classification, significantly impacting her standing.