Demi Vollering wins Tour de France Femmes

Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering clinched the overall victory in the Tour de France Femmes on Sunday, further extending her lead over nearest rival Kasia Niewiadoma. The 29-year-old Dutch rider claimed her second overall title in the race, marking a successful second attempt at winning the event after her triumph in 2023. Vollering secured her title by performing exceptionally well throughout the nine-day race, winning solo on the final two stages, both of which concluded in Nice.

Vollering expressed her joy and confidence regarding her performance, noting that she was aware of her capabilities even when Niewiadoma emerged victorious on the challenging Mont Ventoux climb. Niewiadoma had initially taken the lead on Friday's climb but Vollering edged ahead on Saturday, attacking late on a small hill and establishing an eight-second lead.

Despite claims from Niewiadoma that she had been blocked by a teammate of Vollering's during a crucial moment, no disciplinary action was taken. The final stage of the race, featuring four climbs near Nice, saw Vollering attack near the summit of the fourth ascent, taking an 20-second lead and powering down towards the finish line.

Italy's Elisa Longo Borghini finished third overall, while Switzerland's Marlen Reusser secured the final podium position after losing a two-minute cushion on the podium when she fell during a descent. Dutch sprinter Lorena Wiebes claimed the green jersey for the sprint points leader, with Dutch rider Puck Pieterse taking the polka dot jersey for the best climber. Germany's Antonia Niedermaier was awarded the best young rider jersey.