VOLLERING WINS SECOND TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES TITLE

Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering secured her second Tour de France Femmes title on Sunday by winning the ninth and final stage in Nice. Vollering finished one minute 18 seconds ahead of Polish rival Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney overall after collecting a time bonus for her stage victory. The 29-year-old attacked approximately 600 to 800 metres from the summit of the final climb and dropped Niewiadoma-Phinney decisively.

Italian cyclist Elisa Longo Borghini finished third overall, four minutes 29 seconds behind Vollering. Marlen Reusser lost significant time after crashing on a downhill section earlier in the stage. Vollering won the stage one minute four seconds ahead of Spaniard Paula Blasi Cairol and Niewiadoma-Phinney. The final climb featured gradients as steep as 15 per cent on the narrow Chemin du Vinaigrier near Nice.

Vollering's victory came amid disagreement between the two riders over racing conduct. Following Saturday's stage, Vollering stated she was disappointed by Niewiadoma-Phinney's comments about her teammates, and referenced Niewiadoma-Phinney continuing to the finish after Vollering crashed two years ago in the 2024 race, which Niewiadoma-Phinney won by four seconds. With this title, Vollering has now won five Grand Tours: the Giro d'Italia in June, two Vuelta a España titles, and two Tour de France Femmes crowns, joining Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten as only the second female cyclist to win all three Grand Tours.